Ridge Cemetery Vandals Get Probation; Prosecutor Sought Jail Time

30 months' probation plus public service work is the sentence for three individuals who vandalized more than 100 gravestones at a Shelby County cemetery in March.

Trenton White of Pana, Bradley Wright of Shelbyville and Colton Brown of Vandalia were sentenced November 30. They each must also pay a $1,000 fine plus court costs, must complete 300 hours of public service work, must each undergo mental health counseling, and must make $500 restitution to the cemetery.

The defendants received "second chance" probation, meaning that if they complete their sentence successfully, a felony conviction will not appear on their records.

A juvenile male was also placed on probation for the offense. He did more damage, but was given a lighter term due to his age.

Shelby County State's Attorney Gina Vonderheide asked six months in jail for the defendants but Judge Allen Bennett went with the defense request for probation. Vonderheide said she sought jail time because of the particular offense of vandalizing a cemetery. She said, "There are certain things you don't do."

Regarding the restitution, Vonderheide said a "wonderful volunteer effort" helped restore the headstones at much less cost than the cemetery might have incurred. She said, though, it "cuts both ways". The lower expense to the cemetery meant less restitution by the defendants.