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Posted by Desiree on January 09, 2001 at 18:42:22:

Iguana Killers Receive Fines, Sentences.
1/9/01
Associated Press
http://www.foxnews.com/etcetera/010901/iguana_death.sml

Judith Devlin isn't angry with the four teenage students who were involved in the theft and beating death of her 9-year-old iguana last summer. She's just worried.

I think it was a really bad mistake. I think it's disturbing what they did ... in light of them having made that choice at that age ... it was, hopefully, a one-time error," she said.

The four teens entered Spring Lake High School in western Michigan, through an unsecured door between 1 and 2 a.m. on July 14, Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Police Det. Roger DeYoung said. The four stole a DVD player and Ozzie the iguana, police said.

"They're intentions were just to go in there and skateboard. And then one of the boys found a DVD player ... then another says 'Look it, there's an iguana,"' DeYoung said.

Joel M. Shinn, 18, was recently sentenced to 12 months probation. He also was ordered to pay a $310 fine. He pleaded guilty to illegal entry.

Jordan R. Worel, 18, was sentenced to 21 days in jail and two years probation. He was ordered to pay a $660 fine. He pleaded guilty in September to charges of larceny from a building and animal cruelty.

Zachary C. Shaw, 18, was sentenced to 45 days in jail, 12 months probation and 50 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay a $350 fine. He pleaded guilty to illegal entry.

The fourth suspect, a 16-year-old, was ordered to have no contact with Shinn, 60 days of home detention, 24 hours of community service, and has a curfew for every night of the week.

DeYoung said the teens took the DVD player and Ozzie to the 16-year-old's home. Apparently, the detective said, a nearby pond sparked interest in seeing the iguana swim.

"The iguana jumped in the pond, jumped back out and climbed up a tree," DeYoung said.

At that point, the teen-agers told police they were trying to scare it down. When attempts proved futile, Worel speared the lizard with a bow and arrow, and when Ozzie fell to the ground, Shinn beat it repeatedly with a shovel.

Police never found the iguana's body, which is a point of disagreement among the teenagers -- it was either in a river or a storm sewer where they dumped it.

"There was a terrible smell coming from the storm sewer," DeYoung said. "Maybe half of it's down there. I'm not sure."

The detective said no one at the police department knew about Ozzie's passing until a state police detective called him to ask if he was investigating the case of a missing iguana.

"A few days after that, the teacher discovered that the iguana was missing," he said.

Shinn and Worel were expelled because it was "the third strike against them," said Spring Lake Superintendent Larry Mason said.

Attorneys for the teen-agers did not immediately return phone calls Monday seeking comment.

Shaw and the 16-year-old were suspended for nine weeks, but now are back at school, Mason said Monday.

The iguana had been part of Devlin's science classroom, along with now-10-year-old Harriet the iguana, for six years. Devlin teaches freshman biology, as well as anatomy and physiology to juniors and seniors

Six months after Ozzie's death, the science teacher said although the crime was "gruesome," she is reassured by community support in the almost 3,000-resident community.

"I've had many, many offers" for a new iguana to keep lonely Harriet company, Devlin said. But after the decade she spent with Ozzie, a new iguana would get "beaten up" by a territorial cohort, she said.

Still, the fact that residents treated the crime as a serious one was "a good thing ... it reinforces for me that people are good," Devlin said.

DeYoung, however, doesn't forgive so easy.

"Poor little innocent iguana ... why would you do that?"

"Iguana Killers Receive Fines, Sentences"

Follow Ups:

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- AUGHHH! ..and why.. Ally's Mom 01/10/01 (0)
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: Iguana Killers Receive Fines, Sentences. : 1/9/01 : Associated Press : http://www.foxnews.com/etcetera/010901/iguana_death.sml : Judith Devlin isn't angry with the four teenage students who were involved in the theft and beating death of her 9-year-old iguana last summer. She's just worried. : I think it was a really bad mistake. I think it's disturbing what they did ... in light of them having made that choice at that age ... it was, hopefully, a one-time error," she said. : The four teens entered Spring Lake High School in western Michigan, through an unsecured door between 1 and 2 a.m. on July 14, Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Police Det. Roger DeYoung said. The four stole a DVD player and Ozzie the iguana, police said. : "They're intentions were just to go in there and skateboard. And then one of the boys found a DVD player ... then another says 'Look it, there's an iguana,"' DeYoung said. : Joel M. Shinn, 18, was recently sentenced to 12 months probation. He also was ordered to pay a $310 fine. He pleaded guilty to illegal entry. : Jordan R. Worel, 18, was sentenced to 21 days in jail and two years probation. He was ordered to pay a $660 fine. He pleaded guilty in September to charges of larceny from a building and animal cruelty. : Zachary C. Shaw, 18, was sentenced to 45 days in jail, 12 months probation and 50 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay a $350 fine. He pleaded guilty to illegal entry. : The fourth suspect, a 16-year-old, was ordered to have no contact with Shinn, 60 days of home detention, 24 hours of community service, and has a curfew for every night of the week. : DeYoung said the teens took the DVD player and Ozzie to the 16-year-old's home. Apparently, the detective said, a nearby pond sparked interest in seeing the iguana swim. : "The iguana jumped in the pond, jumped back out and climbed up a tree," DeYoung said. : At that point, the teen-agers told police they were trying to scare it down. When attempts proved futile, Worel speared the lizard with a bow and arrow, and when Ozzie fell to the ground, Shinn beat it repeatedly with a shovel. : Police never found the iguana's body, which is a point of disagreement among the teenagers -- it was either in a river or a storm sewer where they dumped it. : "There was a terrible smell coming from the storm sewer," DeYoung said. "Maybe half of it's down there. I'm not sure." : The detective said no one at the police department knew about Ozzie's passing until a state police detective called him to ask if he was investigating the case of a missing iguana. : "A few days after that, the teacher discovered that the iguana was missing," he said. : Shinn and Worel were expelled because it was "the third strike against them," said Spring Lake Superintendent Larry Mason said. : Attorneys for the teen-agers did not immediately return phone calls Monday seeking comment. : Shaw and the 16-year-old were suspended for nine weeks, but now are back at school, Mason said Monday. : The iguana had been part of Devlin's science classroom, along with now-10-year-old Harriet the iguana, for six years. Devlin teaches freshman biology, as well as anatomy and physiology to juniors and seniors : Six months after Ozzie's death, the science teacher said although the crime was "gruesome," she is reassured by community support in the almost 3,000-resident community. : "I've had many, many offers" for a new iguana to keep lonely Harriet company, Devlin said. But after the decade she spent with Ozzie, a new iguana would get "beaten up" by a territorial cohort, she said. : Still, the fact that residents treated the crime as a serious one was "a good thing ... it reinforces for me that people are good," Devlin said. : DeYoung, however, doesn't forgive so easy. : "Poor little innocent iguana ... why would you do that?"

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