Jaros
enters guilty plea in Pirate theft
by Ivan
Foley
Landmark editor
The last of the defendants in the case of the nearly
800-pound wooden Pirate statue stolen from the lobby of
the Platte County High School learned his fate Tuesday
morning in Platte County Circuit Court Division III.
His fate turned out to be somewhat similar to what the
other five defendants had encountered.
Despite earlier statements by his attorney that he would
seek a jury trial, the last defendant, 17-year-old Nicholas
Jaros, pled guilty this week. In a plea agreement with
the Platte County Prosecutor's Office, Jaros was sentenced
to one year of probation, 100 hours of community service
and $122 in restitution to be paid to the Platte County
R-3 School District for damage to the property.
Judge Daniel Czamanske waived court costs for Jaros,
who presented documentation that he has already worked
100 hours of community service for the school district.
"I'm not gonna see you in here again, am I?"
the judge asked Jaros.
"No, your honor," was the reply.
Jaros' decision to plead guilty rather than go through
a jury trial may have been prompted by a recent revelation
that under Missouri State High School Activities Association
guidelines, he would not have been eligible to compete
in football games until his court case was completed.
He is a member of the Pirates' two-time defending state
champion football squad which opens its season on Sept.
6.
Up until two weeks ago school officials had been operating
under the belief Jaros would be eligible to participate
in games. Matthew O'Connor, Jaros' attorney, recently
declined the opportunity to answer a question of whether
the eligibility issue would have an effect on Jaros' earlier
stated intention of seeking a jury trial.
Jaros joins five other defendants—Steve B. Jones,
17; Joseph L. Mules, 18; Kevin L. Remmers, 18; David R.
Poolman, 19; and Chase A. Verdoorn, 19—who have pled
guilty to misdemeanor counts of stealing, first degree
trespassing, and first degree property damage.
All were given varying sentences of community service
and probation time, depending on prior records and their
cooperation in the investigation.
Court documents filed by the prosecution alleged the
students gained entry into the school building using keys
issued to Nick Jaros' father, who is the athletic director
at the high school. The theft took place in late March;
the wooden-carved Pirate was recovered several days later
in a park at Tiffany Springs.
Platte County Prosecutor Tammy Glick said Jaros' community
service hours at the school were overseen by the school
resource officer.
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