Cleveland man pleads guilty to breaking into Mentor day care

A Cleveland man has admitted to breaking into a Mentor day care while he was high on PCP.

Vincent Pratt, 33, illegally entered the property of Small Hands Big Dreams Learning Center on Market Street about 6 a.m. Oct. 25. The incident led to the facility being evacuated.

Pratt pleaded guilty April 30 in Lake County Common Pleas Court to one count each of vandalism and trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present. In exchange, four other counts will be dismissed.

He now faces anything from probation to 30 months in prison when he is sentenced June 4 by Judge Vincent A. Culotta.

Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Michael Barth said Pratt had no children at the facility, was not a current or former employee and had no connection to the business.

“The defendant was working for a cleaning crew at a nearby store and happened to wander over,” Barth said.

To gain entrance to the locked facility, Pratt ripped a security panel off the wall.

“He broke out a window, climbed in and was stumbling throughout the facility,” Barth added. “An employee quickly called police, who responded immediately.”

Pratt cut himself on the window and spilled blood on the carpet, books, toys and furniture. The blood-stained items had to be replaced.

The blood tested positive for PCP.

Pratt, who was in court with Assistant Public Defender Michael Gabelman, said he committed the crime because he had been upset with a co-worker that day.

Pratt remains free on bond.

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