Riverside Teens Send 3 Goats to Slaughterhouse in High School Heist
Four Riverside and Norco teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of stealing nine goats from a Riverside high school.
The animals were heisted from Norte Vista High School's agriculture students. Police were able to recover seven of the nine goats. Four goats were returned to the school after a teacher discovered them at an Ontario livestock auction house and contacted police. One of the suspects left the goats at the auction house to be appraised. Two additional goats were recovered from the same suspect's home in Norco. Only one of the three goats taken to a slaughterhouse was recovered alive.
Police Lt. Dan Hoxmeier told The Press-Enterprise that police will seek felony theft of livestock charges against the teens. The suspects arrested are Michael B. Visser, 19, of Norco; Letrell T. Airrington, 18, of Riverside; a 17- year-old Norte Vista student and a 16-year-old related to Visser. Airrington was a former Norte Vista student.
Confirming our suspicion that the heist was performed for quick holiday cash, Hoxmeier said, "This was a way to get some quick money for the holiday season." He added that the teens "don't really" have criminal behavior records.
L.A. Now reports that agriculture students owned the goats and were raising them as part of the Future Farmers of America student leadership program. Some students had taken out loans to buy and feed the animals.
