Dealership Owner Refuses to Press Charges After Kids Are Caught Vandalizing 20 Cars

Two kids caused $40,000 worth of damage at a car dealership in Sioux Falls in October.  The two damaged 20 cars by jumping on the hoods.

Here's the security camera footage:

Teens vandalize 20 cars at Subaru dealership http://t.co/k5hnrlVjLo pic.twitter.com/L6DkWOYVwZ

— ArgusLeader911 (@Argus911) October 16, 2015

Mike Schulte, the owner of the dealership, says he planned on pressing charges until he found out how young the kids were. One is 14 the other is 10. He said if they ended up in the system, it could ruin their lives. So, instead of pressing charges he talked to the 14-year-old, who seemed sorry and apologized. Schulte decided not only not to press charges, but he also covered the cost of the damages himself.

He then learned that the 14-year-old kid's mom is disabled and the kid had to walk three miles to school every day. Schulte bought the kid a bus pass and a bike and gave him a job washing cars on the weekend. Some of the money he earns will go toward the damages, the rest he'll get to keep.

Mike says his act has already turned the kid's life around. He said he plans to keep helping until the kid graduates high school.