Teen charged in 2 auto thefts

Multiple counts of vandalism also alleged in complaint
By: 
Tim Ryan
Reporter

SHAWANO — A Shawano teen has been charged with two felony counts of auto theft and multiple cases of vandalism that recently took place in the city.

Payton M. Pagel, 18, was arrested after police received a tip that he was involved in a car theft in the city Monday morning and that there was a Snapchat video of him and another person in the stolen car.

The car was reported stolen in the 1000 block of East Zingler Avenue around 9 a.m. Monday and was later found on Riverbend Circle “almost in the water,” according to the police report.

Police contacted Pagel for questioning, but he failed to show up at the police station, according to the criminal complaint.

On Tuesday, another vehicle was reported stolen in the 1200 block of Birch Hill Lane and was found crashed into a tree in the 800 block of South Prospect Street around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Police located Pagel and took him into custody.

According to the criminal complaint, Pagel admitted to being involved in both vehicle thefts.

Pagel is also charged with seven misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property, including mailboxes that were reported vandalized along Robin Lane on Tuesday morning.

According to the complaint, Pagel told police he engaged in his crimes because he was bored.

“Pagel stated Shawano is boring and there is nothing for kids his age to do,” the complaint states. “Pagel stated it was just teenagers and teenager stuff. Pagel stated he and his friends would be sitting around and looking for things to do and this is the kind of things they thought up.”

According to Shawano police, Pagel is also believed to be connected to graffiti, described by officials as racist and obscene, that was reported at Olga Brener Intermediate School in late July and at Shawano Community High School on Aug. 7.

The charges filed Thursday make no mention of the graffiti incidents.

However, one of the conditions set at a bond hearing Thursday was that Pagel, who is home-schooled, cannot be on school grounds.

Pagel could face a maximum six years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each of the two counts of operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent if convicted.

He is also charged with felony criminal damage to property, which carries the same possible penalty, and felony theft, which carries a maximum 10 years in prison and $25,000 fine.

Judge James Habeck set a $5,000 signature bond for Pagel.

Pagel is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Sept. 3.

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