OXFORD – Three Oxford teenagers have been arrested for the desecration of a local cemetery. They’re also accused of breaking into the Oxford Memorial Library on the same night.
The youths allegedly used a shovel and spade to knock over 30 headstones at St. Joseph’s Cemetery after unsuccessfully trying to dig up a grave. Police say the teens then headed to the library, where they broke in and stole a donation box full of change last Thursday.
Devan Ellsworth, 18, of Greene Street, and two youths, ages 16 and 17, whose names are not being released by police, were arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including burglary and cemetery desecration.
The Village of Oxford Police Department and Chenango County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the incidents Thursday and said the Oxford High School aided in the eventual arrest of the three suspects, two of whom were apprehended after classes ended Monday, said Oxford Police Chief Richard Nolan.
The 16-year-old in the case was arrested early Monday morning because he had already been expelled for truancy, Nolan said.
Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren said, “I went to the cemetery myself once I heard and there are no words to describe the utter disrespect these kids had. In my time as Sheriff, you see these sort of crimes from time to time and I could never, under any circumstances, understand why someone would commit such a horrendous act against their own community. It just boggles the mind.”
Nolan said the suspects used the same tools at the graveyard that were used in the burglary. The three young men at about 1 a.m. Oct. 16, began damaging the cemetery, said Nolan. The chief said the youths not only toppled about 30 headstones, but also that they tried to dig up a grave with the shovel and spade. Nolan reported a shallow ditch about 2 feet across and half a foot deep was found in front of a broken 120-year-old headstone, indicating the boys abandoned the attempt to unearth the coffin.
Following the destruction at the cemetery, the boys allegedly went down to the Oxford Memorial Library and broke in through a window, stealing 20 to 30 dollars worth of change, said the chief.
Nolan said the crimes were fueled, at least in part, by a gallon of stolen wine one of the youths had taken from a relative.
“It’s a great sadness that kids are seeking this kind of mischief at such great expense. It shows that they don’t have proper guidance in their lives and are lacking in character development,” said Father Thomas Ward of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Oxford.
Father Ward said the church owns the cemetery and receives its funding from the Diocese of Syracuse.
“The cemetery has been around since the 19th century and many (headstones) date back to that period. They destroyed the oldest section and the largest stones in that cemetery, some as high as eight feet tall,” said Ward.
The priest estimated the material cost of replacing the historic stones with new ones is at least over $30,000. “That’s not taking into account the time factor of labor, heavy equipment and the historical loss,” he said.
Ward said he was shocked at the level of destruction when he visited the site, saying, “there was a truly Herculean effort made to destroy. Some of the stones knocked over are 500 to 600 pounds of granite.”
The cost of repair will be burdened by the families of the plots and the cemetery insurance from the Diocese will most likely not cover the damage, Father Ward said.
The St. Joseph’s pastor also said some of the oldest graves could be lost forever in the aftermath of the desecration because no one is left to pay for the restoration.
“Since it was the oldest section that was damaged, there are no households or very few still around to make a claim,” said Ward, who added, “We are in a pickle; everything has just happened we will see what can be done.”
Ward intends to consult with the Diocese to see if there is a possible way to restore the cemetery and to see if a civil suit against the perpetrators could be filed. He said community fundraisers were also a possibility.
“We’ll forgive them, but justice will be sought and even with forgiveness, dues have to be paid,” said Father Ward in regards to the three youths arrested by police.
Mike Quinn, of Norwich, visited the cemetery Saturday after hearing news of the vandalism to see if his family had fallen victim to the crimes.
“Nothing I could say or that you could print can convey the feelings of outrage by the families affected,” said Quinn.
He compared the graveyard desecration to the attack on the Norwich Jewish Center in April, where three teens broke in and vandalized the place of worship, breaking sacred relics and causing thousands of dollars in damages.
“Even if they are juveniles, I think they should do some jail time,” he said.
The Sheriff and Oxford Village Police are continuing the investigation and said additional charges against the three boys are pending and that more arrests would be made in connection to the crimes.
Each of the teenagers were charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor. If prosecuted as adults and convicted of the top felony charge against them, third degree burglary, they could spend a maximum of seven years in state prison.
District Attorney Joseph McBride said he had not yet reviewed the case, but said “Anyone 16 and over is eligible to be charged as an adult in New York State and anyone 18 and under is also eligible for youthful offender treatment.”
McBride explained that if youthful offender status was granted by the court, then the teens may avoid a criminal record but would still be punished to a degree if convicted.
Each of the boys were arraigned in Village of Oxford Court Monday and remanded to the County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.