COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – All three suspects charged in connection with the March vandalism of over 100 tombstones and grave markers at the Oak Grove North Cemetery have entered into plea agreements with prosecutors.
The latest were 20-year old Christopher Palmerton, Jr. and 19-year-old William Vanness.
Palmerton entered a no contest plea to an amended charge of malicious destruction of tombs and memorials between $1,000 and $20,000 while Vanness entered a no contest plea to malicious destruction of tombs over $20,000 on Thursday in Branch County Circuit Court.
Other charges will be dismissed in exchange for the no contest pleas.
Both have the option of withdrawing their pleas if they are sentenced to prison instead of the Branch County Jail.
19-year-old Jonathon Siler of Coldwater entered a guilty plea Wednesday to an amended count of malicious destruction of property between $1,000 and $20,000 to memorials and tombstones. As part of his plea agreement, Siler was going to testify against the other two suspects.
All three were originally scheduled to go on trial next Tuesday in Circuit Court.
They are now scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, 2018.
