OXFORD – Police said the three Oxford teenagers arrested for desecrating a Catholic cemetery and breaking into the library signed written confessions and were apologetic to investigators.
Oxford Village Police Chief Richard Nolan confirmed that all three suspects in the case made oral confessions to the crimes before signing written statements admitting their roles.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and Oxford PD began investigating the crimes last Thursday after library staff reported a break in and a missing wishing well that contained between 20 and 30 dollars in change. Later that same day, a woman walking her dog discovered the toppled graves at St. Joseph’s Cemetery and called the police.
Police arrested Devan Ellsworth, 18, of Greene Street, and two other suspects, ages 16 and 17, whose names were not released.
Nolan said the three defendants had been bragging about committing the offenses to classmates at school, which ultimately aided police in making their arrests.
The Police Chief said it was unlikely that any further arrests would be made in the case and said the joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and Oxford police had successfully found all the main culprits.
“A fourth 15-year-old suspect was also bragging to fellow classmates about committing some of the acts, but it later turned out he was just trying to be a big man, attempting to impress others and wasn’t actually involved in the incident,” said Nolan.
“Since the case broke, we’ve encountered people who are verbally justifying the acts these kids committed and I can’t believe there is any justification, whether they’re juveniles or not. It’s ridiculous,” said Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren.
The three teenage defendants were remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility Monday on $10,000 cash bail and were brought up on additional charges Wednesday.
The new charges are second degree criminal mischief, a felony, and three misdemeanors: fifth degree conspiracy, petit larceny and fourth degree criminal mischief.
Monday the boys were charged with second degree criminal mischief, cemetery desecration, third degree burglary, all felonies, and fourth degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. Combining the two sets of charges, the youths are now facing four felonies and four misdemeanors.
The Oct. 16 mayhem that destroyed more 30 gravestones and resulted in a robbery at the Oxford Memorial Library began at around 1 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in the village. Police said the three had consumed a gallon of stolen wine taken from a relative of one of the teens.
The youths are accused of bringing a shovel and spade to the cemetery and attempting to dig up a grave. Unsuccessful, Nolan said the teens decided to knock over the headstones of dozens of graves in the oldest part of the cemetery. Following that, investigators claim the youths headed to the library, where they broke in and stole a donation box full of change.
Father Thomas Ward of St. Joseph’s Church in Oxford said the church owns the cemetery and receives its funding from the Diocese of Syracuse.
Ward 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.
He also said that 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.