11/12/13 Codefendants get jail time in West Holmes vandalism

  • By Nick Sabo
  • November 12, 2013
  • 460
                        
Shielding a codefendant and making threatening messages via social media added up to 45 days in jail for two young men who vandalized West Holmes High School. Wyatt Denver Black, 19, Big Prairie, Drew Jolley, 18, Millersburg, and Corbin Wright, 18, Millersburg, were sentenced Tuesday Nov. 12 in Holmes County Common Pleas Court to restitution and varying terms of jail time each on one count of vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. Black and Jolley were sentenced by visiting Common Pleas Judge Mark K. Wiest to 45 days each in jail, and Wright received a 10-day jail sentence. All three will share in a $9,536.94 restitution and complete 200 hours of community service. The charges stem from May 16, when the three codefendants and a juvenile spray painted messages and symbols on the the high school’s exterior walls, benches, and the school bell. The field house, restrooms and press box were also vandalized. The juvenile has been charged with vandalism in Holmes County Juvenile Court. Speaking before Wiest Tuesday, Jolley said the vandalism was a result of a prank that got out of hand. Jolley said they only planned to spray paint over parking space numbers. Holmes County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Knowling recommended jail time for all three defendants, asking for harsher sentences for Black and Jolley. According to Knowling, Black and Jolley did not confess after being identified as suspects. Black and Jolley further protected a 17-year-old codefendant and used social media to label other students as “snitches”, Knowling said. Knowling asked for “a minimum” of six months in jail for Black and Jolley and 30 days for Wright. Knowling recommended the lighter sentence for Wright because Wright was cooperative during the investigation. Knowling said the court especially needed to get the attention of Black and Jolley because of their “continued lack of respect for everyone involved in this situation”. Wiest said he agreed with Knowling to a point. “I agree with the prosecutor you can’t do anything with someone without getting their attention,” Wiest said. “I agree these defendants are not something that the community needs to be protected from (with a prison sentence). The only thing I don’t agree on is the number of days in jail.” West Holmes High School Principal Bill Sterling spoke at the hearing on behalf of the school. Sterling said the area vandalized had been the focus of a community clean-up day in October 2012 that resulted in hundreds of accumulated volunteer hours. “It was the best it has looked in the seven years I’ve been with the school,” Sterling said. “That’s what made it so disappointing.” Sterling said volunteers from the community again came out to remove the spray paint and fix damages after May 16 to make the school “at least presentable” in time for a district track meet and graduation. Restitution for the damages was initially reported at approximately $6,200. Sterling said the initial estimate did not include the fact that bathroom fixtures including urinals, countertops and sinks will have to be replaced, as well as signs put up by previous graduating classes. Sterling said he hopes the court proceedings will serve as a lesson. “We just wanted to go through the process to show that its not appropriate to deface property,” Sterling said. In addition to the jail time and restitution, Wiest further ordered the three codefendants to complete 18 months probation. During that time, they will be prohibited from having contact with West Holmes district property and will be banned from using social media sites. Vandalism is a fifth-degree felony that carries up to 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine.


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