Four implicated in vandalism

A Greencastle High School student has been arrested and charged this week for his alleged role in the recent vandalism of a rival school.

Michael Richardson, 18, was booked into the Putnam County Jail Thursday night on charges of conspiracy to commit mischief and mischief stemming from the Sept. 2 vandalism of the North Putnam High School football field.

He was released Friday after posting bail. Richardson, a member of the Greencastle football team, did not participate in the GHS game Friday night at North Putnam.

Meanwhile, three juveniles have been questioned and will also be charged for their alleged involvement, Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter told the BannerGraphic Friday.

Police believe Richardson and the juveniles were responsible for $6,500 worth of vandalism that took place in and around the football complex.

A maintenance worker called police on Sept. 4 after arriving at the school to find numerous items in the football field area had been defaced with red and white spray paint.

According to a police report, the vandals painted the concession stand, vending machines, entrance gates to the football field, the track, goal posts, bleachers, press box, the football field itself, scoring clocks, tables, team benches, the cougar mascot in front of the school building, and many other items.

Evidence pictures showed the letters SPHS had been painted on numerous items, along with several expletives and other illegible words.

It has been speculated that whoever committed the acts chose the letters SPHS, for South Putnam High School, in an attempt to throw off anyone trying to investigate.

According to Bainbridge Marshal Rodney Fenwick's case report, the boys had been planning the attempt for about a week.

It was Richardson who allegedly drove the other teens to Wal-Mart where he purchased the cans of spray paint used in the crimes. Richardson then drove the others to North Putnam where they committed the acts under the cover of darkness.

Since the incident was reported, word spread throughout the community including the school where staff instructed the students not to retaliate.

The prosecutor said he delayed making the information public until Friday because he was waiting on information from the Bainbridge Police Depart-ment.

Bookwalter said all the teens involved will be required to pay restitution to the school.