The Citizen staff report

Three teenagers were charged with burglary Thursday after a late-night break-in at Southern Cayuga Central School that Cayuga County Sheriff Rob Outhouse called a prank that got out of hand.

Outhouse said "many more arrests" are expected in the case.

Outhouse said Friday the Southern Cayuga school resource officer John Nedza had received information that students were planning to break into the building Thursday night.

Sheriff's deputies who went the school to meet and set up a stakeout found that several people were already inside the building.

As the group scattered, Outhouse said, deputy Tim Axton was able to take three into custody.

Charged with felony third-degree burglary and the misdemeanors of criminal mischief and petit larceny are: Donald J. Jassen, 17, of Mosher Road, Scipio Center; Michael J. Lawrence, 17, of Hunter Road, Scipio Center; and Cari Burleson, 18, of 93 East Genesee St., Auburn.

Outhouse said Jassen and Lawrence are seniors at Southern Cayuga. Burleson is not a student there.

"It may have started as a senior prank and things got out of hand," Outhouse said Friday afternoon. "We've been interviewing people all day long. Many more arrests are pending."

Outhouse said the group of burglars were not necessarily planning to steal items from the building but were bent on damaging the property.

High School principal Karen Simon said damage to the school was "very limited" and said she was disappointed to learn that students were involved.

For the full report, read Saturday's edition of The Citizen.