by David Flint
A Stephentown man was arrested on Mother’s Day at the vacant Stephentown Elementary School. [private]State Police report that they responded to an active alarm at about 3:45 pm and found that Kevin J. Hilt, 34, of Stephentown had broken into the school and was in the process of stealing items from the building. Police said that Hilt had gathered a number of items at the rear door of the school and was prepared to make off with them.
Hilt was charged with 3rd degree Burglary and also Criminal Mischief for causing more than $250 in damage to the property. He was arraigned before Stephentown Town Justice Cyril Grant and remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail.
Vacant Building
The building has been vacant for five years since the Berlin Central School District elementary schools were consolidated at the Berlin Elementary School location in 2009. Although there have been reports that the school has been broken into previously, and graffiti can be seen scrawled on windows State Police Public Information Officer Mark Cepiel said that he could confirm that in the last 12 months there has been only one other alarm call from the building.
BCS Superintendent Stephen Young could not be reached for comment before press time.
[/private]