A Penn State student who police said broke into the Lasch Football Building in July and caused $5,000 worth of damages has requested entrance to a first-time offenders program, Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said Monday.
On his 21st birthday, Daniel J. Costenbader broke into the football building wearing only his boxers, damaging a window and several other items, according to court documents.
Costenbader (senior-electrical engineering) was charged on July 24 with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and public drunkenness, according to court documents.
Madeira said Costenbader's request to enter the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program is pending. He also said all the damages incurred were repairable and he expects Costenbader's request to be accepted.
Defense attorney William "Skip" Arbuckle said the night of the incident was an "aberration" for his client.
"It was clearly stupid and embarrassing, but given the nature of what occurred, he wasn't trying to do anything rational," he said.
Arbuckle said Costenbader will face a probationary sentence, fees and restitution costs as part of his ARD, if accepted.
"It's very appropriate," he said. "He is very relieved and grateful that he is being given a chance to prove himself."
Costenbader told police that as he headed home after a night of drinking at downtown bars, he hopped the fence to the football field where he began hitting tackling dummies, according to court documents.
He then saw an open gate and headed toward the Lasch Building, according to court documents.
While inside, Costenbader threw weights at a window in the training office, flipped two tables and two trampolines in the training room and broke a window in the south lobby, according to court documents.
When police entered the building, Costenbader was seen picking up a replica Alamo Bowl trophy, valued at $2,000, which he then put back down, police said. A stolen equipment bag, valued at $40, was also found near the first broken window and contained eight Nike footballs, valued at $50 each, and Nike cleats, valued at $125, according to court documents.
