Two Florida middle school boys face serious juvenile charges after their mothers reported them for causing more than $50,000 in damage to a school library. Authorities say 12-year-old Felix Cohen Romero and 13-year-old Bentley Ryan Wehrly entered Friendship Elementary School in Deltona during the day on September 13, then returned at night to vandalize the media center. Deputies responding to a fire alarm found broken glass, overturned furniture, scattered books, and graffiti. Surveillance footage later released showed two masked youths, one in a Monster Energy cap, which led the boys’ mothers to identify and report them. Both teens have since confessed to the crime.
The sheriff’s office confirmed the pair face multiple charges including burglary, criminal mischief, theft, and trespassing. Public reaction has been divided: many praised the mothers’ tough decision to hold their children accountable, while others worry about the long-term consequences of a juvenile record. Some suggest restorative justice, like cleanup, apologies, or community service, could help the boys learn responsibility without being defined by this mistake. The case has sparked wider debate about parental responsibility, discipline, and the best way to guide children toward better choices.