Three young children — two girls and one boy between the ages of 8 and 10 — have been charged with misdemeanor malicious injury to property after extensively damaging a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stake building on Bartz Way in Pocatello, Idaho, police say.
The vandalism occurred on a Friday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The building sits adjacent to Idaho State University‘s Stephens Performing Arts Center. The children reportedly entered through an unlocked door before causing damage that investigators estimated at more than $1,000.
Widespread Damage Inside the Building
Once inside, the trio caused destruction throughout the facility. They smashed glass objects, broke various items, clogged toilets, and tipped paint cans over onto carpet. A church member reported the vandalism to police that Friday evening after discovering the scene.
Investigators were able to track down the suspects by following footprints from the building to nearby residences. All three children were identified and subsequently charged.
Children Released to Parents
Because of their ages, none of the children were taken into custody beyond the initial contact with police. All three were released to their parents, who cooperated fully with the investigation. The children’s names were not released, as is standard practice for juvenile suspects.
Each child faces a misdemeanor charge of malicious injury to property. Property damage cases involving juveniles in Idaho are handled through the state’s juvenile justice system, which emphasizes rehabilitation alongside accountability — particularly for offenders as young as these three.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about unsupervised juveniles accessing public and semi-public buildings in Pocatello neighborhoods. In a separate recent incident, a Pocatello man faced felony charges after deliberately running over two Flock cameras at a local Lowe’s, reflecting a broader pattern of property destruction cases drawing police attention across the city.
What Comes Next
With misdemeanor charges filed against all three children, the cases will move through Idaho’s juvenile court system. Given the ages involved, outcomes could include counseling, community service, restitution to the church, or parental accountability measures. The full cooperation of the children’s parents may be considered a mitigating factor as the process moves forward.
Pocatello police have not announced any additional suspects or related charges in connection with the incident. The LDS stake building on Bartz Way will require repairs before returning to normal use. No timeline for those repairs has been publicly announced.
For more Idaho public safety coverage, visit Idaho News.