Four teenage boys � three who are 17 years old, the other 16 years of age � currently face a variety of federal and state felony and misdemeanor charges after they recently admitted their roles in widespread mailbox vandalism in rural Seymour that occurred between 11 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4 a.m. Dec. 4.
Among the counts the four boys face are federal charges for tampering with federal property, 12 to 15 counts of misdemeanor property damage, Class D felony animal abuse, felony charges for unlawful discharge of a firearm, underage drinking and felony conspiracy charges, Webster County Deputy James Cervi said Monday.
�These four (boys) are in a world of hurt,� Cervi said. �That�s about the best way to describe it ... not only are we talking about the bashing of mailboxes, we�re also looking at a dog brutally shot for no reason and the shooting of railroad crossarms.�
The three 17-year-old boys who face charges are Sam Lovins, Clayton Payseur and Justin Snelson, all from Seymour. Cervi said he could not release the name of the 16-year-old boy, who is a student at Seymour High School.
Damage to the mailboxes occurred along Finley Falls, Mat- ney Hollow and PeeWee Crossing roads in rural Seymour. Cervi said that to his knowledge, all the crimes and damage occurred during the aforementioned five-hour timespan on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.
�All four of the boys admitted to their crimes,� the deputy said. �As of now (Monday), I�ve spent about 40 hours on this case, and I�m only now getting started. More charges will follow in connection with the case.�
He also was quick to mention that two of the boys, Lovins and Snelson, have made great strides over the past week to first admit their wrongdoing, then to make attempts at restitution.
�These two truly are remorseful for what they did, and they�ve been responsible for their actions, which is a credit to their character,� Cervi said. �In fact, on Sunday, both of these boys voluntarily, without any pressure to do so, went to each of the 17 known victims, admitted what they did and apologized to each of them.�
Cervi pointed out that Lovins and Snelson weren�t involved in the felony aspects of the crimes, which included the shot dog and damage to the railroad crossarms at the intersection of PeeWee Crossing Road and U.S. 60.
�These boys were just involved in the damage to the mailboxes,� he explained. �But to credit their character, on Sunday, (Lovins and Snelson) went to the lady whose dog was shot, Sally Wilson, and first apologized, then prayed with her. Although they didn�t shoot her dog, they felt the need to go to her and express their remorse.� References | Webster County Citizen |
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