Pioneer Student Convicted Of Malicious Destruction

A TTyear-old Ann Arbor Pioneer High School student who pólice officers say swung a chain through a window glass during a disturbance at the school last month was found guilty yesterday of malicious destruction of property. Larry E. Wright of 707 Felch St. was one of about a dozen tudents arrested by city pólice after a spree of destruction at the W. Stadium Blvd. senior high school on Sept. 30. Observers said the brief rampage was staged by Negro students who were dissatisfied with administration moves to hire more black teachers and counselors. Damage to Pioneer High building was placed at about $55,000. Wright was the first of those arrested to be eonvicted after a trial. One other defendant has entered a guilty plea to malicious destruction charges. Trials for other youths involved in [the disturbance are pending. Yesterday's trial was held before District Court Judge S. J. Elden with Miss Pauline Rothmeyer appearing as Wright's counsel and Assistant i Prosecutor Thomas F. Sheai presenting the case for the! state. Testifying yesterday for the I prosecution were Lt. Kenneth B. Klinge, director of the city i Pólice Department's 1 Community Relations unit, I Theodore Rokicki, principal of II Pioneer High School, City Pólice Detective Robert seler and City Pólice Detective Sgt. Wilfred Lyons. All three pólice officers said they saw a person they identified as Wright swing a chromecolored chain through a window in the school as a group of from 15 to 30 yuoths moved down a hallway. Principal Rokicki tified the window the pólice said Wright broke was intact earlier on Sept. 30. Miss Rothmeyer moved for a dismissal of the charge on the grounds that no malicious intent had been shown and because of what she termed "contradictory" testimony by the state witnesses. She pointed out that one witness had testified he seen "some" white studente in an área where Negro studente had emerged from a room in the school and entered a hallway. Judge Elden denied the motions to dimiss and said testimony showed that three witnesses had seen Wright turn toward the window and "snap" the chain. "When one snaps a chain at ai window the intent is apparent,"] the judge said. He then found Wright guiltyl of malicious destruction ofl property and set sentencing forl Nov. 20. The youth is free onl bond.