BOYS rectify Edinburgh vandalism

The boys started cleaning about a week afterward by painting over or washing off graffiti, Edinburgh residents and families of the juveniles reported to the <http://www.thejournalnet.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=113&ArticleID=44187>

Boys rectify Edinburgh vandalism
By JASON MICHAEL WHITE
Daily Journal staff writer
jwhite@thejournalnet.com

June 11, 2004

Edinburgh teens accused of criminal mischief and arson are cleaning up some paint and damage left after a vandalism spree in town.

In the meantime, they’re awaiting a July 20 juvenile court hearing. The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office has charged them, and if they were adults, some of the charges would be felonies.

The three boys arrested May 3 and facing a total of 42 charges are:

• Marc Dilk, 14, 504 S. Holland St., Edinburgh
  
• Clinton Johnson, 14, 6232 E. County Road 800S, Edinburgh
  
• Daniel Miller, 12, 500 S. Walnut St., Edinburgh.
  
  Each has been charged with 12 counts of criminal mischief, one count of aiding in arson and one count of aiding in theft.
  
  The vandalism spree lasted from April 26 to 28. The boys started cleaning about a week afterward by painting over or washing off graffiti, Edinburgh residents and families of the juveniles reported to the prosecutor’s office.
  
  The kids were told by family members to clean the areas they vandalized, and they agreed, even though the court has not proven them guilty. They are working with one of the boys’ uncles, the family reported. The uncle helped pay for paint to brush over graffiti.
  
  During a July 20 hearing, the juvenile court will assign the boys attorneys, read them their rights and schedule a second hearing. The boys will admit or deny charges against them at the second hearing, Prosecutor Lance Hamner said.
  
  The judge will sentence them at the second hearing if they admit to the charges. If the boys deny the charges, they will go through a juvenile court trial.
  
  Juvenile court judges have discretion as to how the victims will be punished if found guilty, Hamner said. Juvenile court judges are not bound by strict sentencing guidelines.
  
  A judge could sentence the three boys to detention time, boys school, community service or counseling or to write apology letters to victims.
  
  “I’d like to see them get some detention time and a whole lot of work,” Hamner said in a previous interview. “Idle hands with nothing better to do than tear up other people’s property … should work to clean up their mess and other people’s messes.”
  
  The vandalism spread from Shelby Street to Walnut, Main and Main Cross streets. Three vintage cars were spray painted and their windows broken. Graffiti was also painted on garages, a church and the fire station.
  
  Several vehicles were spray painted and had their windows broken with bricks, a convertible’s top was cut and a necklace stolen from inside, and a fire was started with a can of WD-40, police reports said.
  
  Some of the graffiti included the word “Juggalo,” which identifies fans of the national rap-metal band Insane Clown Posse. The term is not gang-related, Edinburgh police officer Dan Garvey said in a previous interview.
  
  Police asked Edinburgh school officials for information regarding Insane Clown Posse fans. A student came forward and supplied a list of known fans. Police interviewed the fans to identify three suspects, Garvey said.