APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Two people arrested in a vandalism spree across the Fox Valley were in court on Friday.
18-year-old Kevin Peterson and 17-year-old Brandon Fossum are being charged with 15 felony counts and face up to 100 years in prison.
An investigation was initially prompted after fires damaged elevators in downtown Appleton’s Yellow and Green parking ramps earlier this month.
Then, extensive damage was discovered at a number of construction sites last week, including the Fox Cities Champion Center in Grand Chute, a house being built by Fox Valley Technical College students in Appleton and an apartment building in Little Chute.
It was revealed in court that Peterson and Fossum allegedly stole and crashed two vehicles belonging to Fireline Sprinklers.
Authorities were told by Peterson that Fossum and a third juvenile suspect wanted to “Grand Theft Auto” the trucks.
Fossum’s girlfriend was alleged to be in the cars at some point, according to the criminal complaint.
The criminal complaint also states that Peterson said this started after being bored one day and tired of playing video games
Things quickly escalated after initially beginning with flipping construction cones or porta-potties.
The individuals eventually formed a group and called themselves Block Gang or Group in connection with vandalism at construction sites, according to Peterson.
Prosecutors revealed in court the estimated damage to all sites was more than $2 million.
