Larry, First I would make sure there is an actual written report, if and when someone is "caught", it is then up to the prosecutors discretion on actually what charges will stick. The officer can charge them however he pleases, but in these cases it always seems they are charged with the very minor misdemeanor. Also the prosecutor is likely to let them plead down to attain the conviction, which he may consider very iffy, should the offender choose to fight it or has a rather slick attorney. The only way you can be sure anything is getting done is to stay on top of it, make it your business. Plenty of these situations evaporate, and the stones are all thats left. I have seen convictions usually result if the state police are involved, they often have a strict interpretation of the crime. Lee Creed Greencastle

This was not the case of a cemetery, but teenagers vandalizing our Lighthouse Catwalk. They were caught and had to make restitution. It was paid back through the county clerk's office. One continued to pay his share, but the other once he was 18 was no longer under the jurisdiction of the juvenile department and the payments were not forthcoming. It looked like nothing was going to happen, but with the cooperation of the county clerk and her records we directly contacted the vandalizer and the parents with a letter stating they would hear from our attorney if they did not complete the payment of the court ordered restitution. We got all our money. Just some food for thought if and when they catch those who vandalized the cemetery and have a judgment made. Pat ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 5:50 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] RE: [IPCRP] Cemetery in Kosciusko County > > Larry, > > First I would make sure there is an actual written report, if and when > someone is > "caught", it is then up to the prosecutors > discretion on actually what charges will stick. The officer can charge > them however he pleases, but in these cases it always seems they are > charged with the very minor misdemeanor. Also the prosecutor is likely > to let them plead down to attain the conviction, which he may consider > very iffy, should the offender choose to fight it or has a rather slick > attorney. > > The only way you can be sure anything is getting done is to stay on top > of it, make it your business. Plenty of these situations evaporate, and > the stones are all thats left. > > I have seen convictions usually result if the state police are involved, > they often have a strict interpretation of the crime. > > Lee Creed > Greencastle > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Brad Manzenberger < [email protected] > is the INPCRP State Coordinator. Feel free to contact him directly regarding questions or comments you may have about the INPCRP.