Four Cottage School Youths Charged with Burglarizing Pleasantville Deli

An emotional scene broke out during Tuesday's criminal court session in Pleasantville as a handcuffed 17-year-old  student broke down and begged to be admitted back into the school.

Christian DeVeaux stood along co-defendant Jahvonne Chambers, also 17, and began crying and said, "I'm sorry for what I did...please let me me back...I do not want to go back to jail, please," despite his stand-in attorney's protests.

DeVeaux and Chambers, along with two other juvenile Cottage School students, were arrested early Thursday after allegedly burglarizing a Wheeler Avenue business.

According to police records, a woman came into police headquarters at 6:39 a.m. on June 21 and reported finding a broken cash register in the breezeway behind Iron Horse Grill. Police responded to the scene, and at 6:47 a.m., reported the front door of One Way Deli (42 Wheeler Ave.) had been broken. Officers said they believed the register had been taken from the deli. They also reported the door appeared to have been broken by a plastic golf tee mark.

At 6:51 a.m., police made contact with a school official, who provided the names of four students who had returned to campus at approximately 5:30 a.m. that day—including DeVeaux and Chambers.

The four youths were arrested. The two juveniles—ages 14 and 15—will be tried in family court.

Chambers and DeVeaux remain in jail following their arraignment. They are being tried as adults as they are each charged with three felonies—Burglary in the Third Degree, Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree.

They allegedly broke open the door, broke the cash register and took $3,000 in cash from the store.

Chambers bail was set at $15,000 and DeVeaux's was set at $10,000.

Chambers' attorney indicated in court Tuesday that he has an active warrant out of New York City for alleged petty larceny.

Both teens' attorneys requested the court consider referring the two to a youth shelter instead of jail.

DeVeaux continued to protest and plead with a Jewish Child Care Association representative in court, asking to be admitted back to school. At one point, he fell to the floor crying, and was helped up by police officers.

Assistant District Attorney Diana Hedyati requested bail status remain the same for both defendants and the cases were adjourned until July 10.

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