Man arrested in Iowa City High last week faces new theft charges

An Iowa City man arrested last week after police said he illegally entered City High School in the middle of the night to check out the security is facing new charges today in connection with that incident.

According to a new criminal complaint, police noticed on the school's surveillance cameras that Forrest Kristian Weger, 29, entered City High at 12:47 a.m. March 19 carrying a backpack. Investigators later found the backpack in the school, 1900 Morningside Drive, and inside reported discovering two pieces of jewelry from Hands Jewelers, 109 E. Washington St. in Iowa City.

A diamond ring and diamond necklace that police reportedly found inside the backpack that Weger was seen carrying were valued at $7,600. Investigators suspect they were stolen from Willowwind School, 950 Dover St. in Iowa City, according to the complaint.

In an interview with police, Weger said he bought the jewelry on March 18 from an unknown person for $75 at RockTenn, a packaging and paper product company with a location in Iowa City, according to the complaint.

Investigators said they could not corroborate information Weger provided about the person who sold him the jewelry.

His new charges include two counts of second degree theft, felonies punishable by up to five years in prison each.

In connection with accusations that he illegally entered City High, Weger was charged last week with third-degree burglary, a felony.

According to a previous criminal complaint, police were called to the school on a burglary alarm and found Weger in the boiler room. In surveillance video, Weger is seen entering several rooms and trying to enter many more, according to police.

He had with him a video recorder that he took from one of the rooms, according to the complaint, and he told investigators that he entered the school “to see if there was a security system.”

He is being held in the Johnson County Jail in lieu of a $17,500 cash bond.

Weger on his Facebook page indicates that he was in the City High class of 2002, although he is not listed as a graduate in The Gazette's records.

He has a lengthy criminal history in Iowa, including several felony convictions for theft, burglary, unauthorized use of a credit card and forgery in Linn, Johnson, Polk sand Warren counties.

Other convictions on his record include operating a vehicle without consent, eluding police, violating his probation, minor theft charges, and drug violations. As a juvenile, he was arrested for interference with official acts causing bodily injury, eluding police, operating a vehicle without consent, theft and burglary charges.

His charges came in numerous counties across the state.