Two men charged in burglary spree

Two Salt Lake County men were charged Tuesday for an alleged burglary spree through Salt Lake City earlier this month that caused thousands of dollars worth of damage and deprived almost a dozen people from thousands of dollars more in stolen property.

Christopher James Peterson, 20, and Kelton Daniel Quinn, 19, are accused of breaking into a handful of vehicles in the Avenues area between Jan. 1 and Jan. 9 then topping it all off with the break-ins of a fraternity house, where Peterson had just been kicked out, and a school, where Quinn's father worked as the athletic director.

An affidavit filed Tuesday in 3rd District court alleges that the two men used a crowbar to break into the Judge Memorial Catholic High School, 650 S. 1100 East, in the early morning of Jan. 11, stealing a computer, drill, a calculator and causing more than $5,000 in damage overall. In that same night, Peterson allegedly sneaked into the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house, with Quinn waiting in a car, and nicked a stereo system, wiring and a surveillance camera from the house – but not before the camera he allegedly stole caught him on tape. Peterson is also accused of smashing the window of a vehicle parked outside of the fraternity and stealing a car stereo and snowboarding gear from inside, as well as a suitcase and golf clubs from the house's hallway.

The pair were turned in to police the next morning by their respective fathers, who suspected they were behind the burglary that took place at Judge Memorial. When police responded, they found a pile of loot from the night before inside Peterson's vehicle, according to prosecutors. In subsequent interviews with police, the men allegedly admitted to five vehicle burglaries in the Avenues in which they broke windows with a pellet gun and stole whatever valuables they could find. Peterson allegedly told investigators that he and Quinn decided to hit up his old fraternity because he was mad about being kicked out earlier. They then hit the high school a few hours later, he allegedly told police.

In all, the two racked up a litany of charges for their alleged crimes. They are: one count each of first and second-degree felony burglary; counts of criminal mischief that include one second degree felony and five class B misdemeanors; theft counts that include three third-degree felonies, five class A misdemeanors and one class B misdemeanor; three class A misdemeanor counts of vehicle burglary; and class B misdemeanor counts of possession of burglary tools and theft by deception.

kbennion@sltrib.com

Twitter: @KimballBennion