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Friday, 11 July 2008 |
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — A trio of St. Marys residents, who investigators believe were behind a string of vandalism incidents across Auglaize County in June, face 15 criminal charges related to the spree.
Aaron S. Hufford, 20, 955 Parkway Drive, Matthew R. Mabry, 19, 608 Cleveland Ave., and Nathan R. Wilson, 19, 792 Gordon Grove, each face 15 counts of criminal damaging, all second-degree misdemeanors, for their alleged role in a string of vandalism incidents on or near June 12. Each face nine charges from the New Bremen Police Department, four from the St. Marys Police Department and two from the Minster Police Department. A 16-year-old male also faces criminal charges stemming from the incident.
According to court records, Hufford entered a written plea of innocent to the charges and Mabry entered an innocent plea in Auglaize County Municipal Court Wednesday. As of press time, Wilson had yet to enter a plea to the charges.
According to a police report, a dispatcher at the New Bremen Police Department received a phone call a 1 a.m. June 12 regarding vandalism to several vehicles. Officers found the windows shot out of vehicles parked along Monroe, Main, First and Second streets.
“They were driving around and they had a BB gun and were just using it to shoot at vehicles,” New Bremen Police Chief Doug Harrod said. “There was no entry into the vehicles and there were several windows that were broken out.”
Harrod said damage on vehicles within the village ranged from $200 to more than $700.
The police chief said following the New Bremen incidents, officers notified surrounding departments regarding the vandalism.
“There were some witnesses here in town that saw what happened,” Harrod said. “Radio traffic was put out to the surrounding communities and they were eventually located in Fort Loramie. When the officer approached them, they took off running on foot and they were apprehended.”
At 5:12 a.m. at the Minster Marathon, officers with the Minster Police Department assisted members of the Fort Loramie Police Department with the apprehension of the suspects regarding a complaint of vandalism at Bud’s Pizza.
The business owner reported a window on the front door of the building was shot out as well as the back window of a pick-up truck parked on Webster Street.
St. Marys Police Chief Greg Foxhoven said incidents of vandalism typically spike during the summer months.
Foxhoven also praised the cooperation among all departments for making a speedy arrest of the suspects.
“These were senseless crimes that were committed,” Foxhoven said. “They were shooting out windows for no reasons — they didn’t get anything from their crimes. I also was pleased with the cooperation with the other departments, including an agency outside of Auglaize County.”
A second-degree misdemeanor is punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. The trio also could be ordered to pay any restitution associated with the charges.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 July 2008 )
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