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Three Teenagers Arrested In Vandalism At Central Texas Cemetery Save Email Print
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(August 28, 2008)—The Coryell County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three teenagers in connection with the vandalism on Aug. 17 that left as many as 50 headstones in the Turnersville Cemetery damaged or destroyed.

The three are charged with criminal mischief to a place of worship, cemetery, or public monument, which is a state jail felony.

Deputies arrested Lariat Wade Jackson, 17, of Jonesboro and two juveniles, a 15-year-old boy from Jonesboro and a 16-year-old boy from Weatherford.

The Sheriff’s Office said it may be impossible to determine the monetary damage because many of the headstones that were damaged or destroyed are old and cannot be repaired.
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Posted by: Just a mom Location: Texas on Sep 7, 2008 at 12:14 AM
I will say that if it were either my children that had done this, they would be going every Saturday until they graduated high school and maybe then some to maintain our city cemetary. I went to cemetaries when I was a teen and even still do to look at all of the old stones and even scrubbed moss off of them so that they could be read again. Skipping school is a stupid mistake, writing your name on a bathroom wall is a stupid mistake, destroying ages old head stones that can't be replaced is just cruel. If these boys were truely sorry, they would show how sorry they are, not just say it. I would have loved to have read that they were going to SHOW how sorry they were and devote a few hours a week cleaning up the area cemetaries by choice.
Posted by: anonymous. Location: gap on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:06 AM
I agree just me.
Posted by: Just me Location: Jonesboro on Sep 3, 2008 at 06:25 PM
I have personally known Lariat Jackson all his life and I grew up w/his parents. He comes from a christian home and has always been a hard worker and a good kid, one that you would want your kids to hang out with. He could have never been considered a punk or thug. He made a very bad choice and he knows it, and he is paying for it. You may all be interested in knowing that he has apologized to his family for the embarassment he has caused and is very remorseful. Now he just has to deal with the legal stuff. Lighten up... it could be your son making a bad choice next time. Do you truly know what your kids are doing when your back is turned? Face it, none of us do and we would all like to think our kids will do what is right. Then when they don't, we find ourselves very humbled. Lariat is a good kid who just made a bad choice that night. I am so glad that those of you persecuting him aren't God. It would sure make it difficult for any of us to make it to heaven if you were.
Posted by: Stacy Location: Bruceville Eddy on Sep 2, 2008 at 08:37 PM
I agree with Karen and Pam.
Posted by: Pam is massively angry! Location: Gap on Sep 2, 2008 at 08:35 PM
I have no involvment of this once soo ever. I understand that they did a desrepectful thing and yeah i know what the hole story is and its not that i was involved in it yall make up stupid stories and you all don't even know what the hell your talking about. && yeah they are punks and so were you in highschool and GAP is a TOWN look it up!!!! love always, pam =]
Posted by: kelly Location: gatesville on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:48 PM
dear disturbed, remember the greatest commandment? It's in Mark 12:30. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strenght, 31: the second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself, there is no commandment greater than these." also look at Luke 23:34 " Jesus said, "FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING." That is the Lord I serve, not one who is full of hate. I can just see Jesus sitting on the throne beside his father God asking him to forgive those boys. God knew way before you and I that this was going to happen, Just maybe one of these boys will accept Christ as his Savior and go and spread the Word. How are you going to feel when you stand before your judgement day and GOD ask you what you did to help these kids that he loves?Unless you forgive you will not be forgiven.
Posted by: TO DON'T GET ME STARTED Location: GATESVILLE on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Nothing if you believe in GOD is inexcusable,Please donot pass judgement on these kids, they are not criminals, they are kids who need leadership from the older generation. As for a public flogging, do you really in your heart think Jesus would approve. You quoted the scripture from John 8 verse 7, maybe you should reread that chapter and you will see all the people(which you represent) were ready to stone the women after all law said she should be stoned for adultery, but what happened after Jesus said "IF ONE OF YOU IS WITHOUT SIN, LET HIM BE THE FIRST TO THROW A STONE AT HER" Yes you are right they all left. Jesus told the women in verse 11 "THEN NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU, GO NOW AND LEAVE YOUR LIFE OF SIN" This is what we should be doing for these kids, live like Jesus would want you to. He wouldn't want you to condem his children he would tell you to love them just as he loves you. I don't even know you but I do know none is perfect except for Jesus and he forgives.
Posted by: dori lynn Location: gatesville on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:08 PM
ANONYMOUS,you have alot of hate in your heart.Why would you label these kids as punk thugs, do you think Jesus would be proud of you for that?If someone messed up one of your loved ones resting place, you must forgive them, that is what Jesus would do, he wouldn't hate them, remember on the cross when a known criminal asked Jesus for forgiveness and believed he was the son of GOD, what happened. Jesus forgave him and took him into heaven. Why would you a simple person make it your job to judge these kids , leave that up to the courts. Scripture tells us "JUDGE LEAST THOU BE JUDGED" remember what ever you hand out may come back on you seven fold.Think of there parents and what a living hell they are going through.It is evident that these actions are out of character for these kids. OUR WORLD IS FULL OF ENOUGH HATE , HAVE MERCY AND FORGIVENESS IN YOUR HEART, YOU SHOULD BE ASKING WHAT IT IS THAT YOU COULD DO TO HELP THESE KIDS LEARN AND NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN.
Posted by: levi Location: gatesville on Sep 2, 2008 at 05:47 PM
What happened at Turnersville was very wrong & these boys should be held responsible to some degree. although being sent to juvenile or jail is not the answer. How many inmates do we currently have busting out the seams of our jails and prisons does it appear to any of you that going to jail only teaches more criminal behavior.I have worked in a prison for over 20 yrs and I have seen offenders returning and returning time and time again.Prison does not reform anyone. What has happened here is hurt feelings not actual physical bodily harm. Those people resting in those graves are just bodies there souls rest with GOD if they were saved and somewhere else if they weren't.I'm sure Jesus had a tear in his eye when he saw what was happening but if these young people ask for forgiveness the BIBLE tells us they will be forgiven, so it sounds like to me, that those that are so hatefull and looking for blood should forgive these boys and then ask for forgiveness themselves.Remember WWJD!!!!!
Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Sep 2, 2008 at 07:02 AM
PAM - The only "GAP here is the one between your ears. I have a life a job and an education. I also have respect for others. Something you and these heathens dont have a clue about.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 1, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Pam I hope someone does this to your loved ones resting place. Oh and by the way "waaaayyy" either you should be invsetigated for your participation in this CRIME or you know the punk thugs involved. Yes I called them punk thugs. LOL. Ps what does this mean? " yall are taking to waaaayyy overboard " Go back to school doofus.
Posted by: Pam Location: Gap on Aug 31, 2008 at 02:33 PM
yall people don't have a life that is why yall are taking to waaaayyy overboard and they are just kids. Drop it.
Posted by: Dont get me started Location: TO so messed up on Aug 31, 2008 at 03:44 AM
It is apparent that you must be at least friends with these juvenile delinquents or maybe you are the one they didn’t catch yet. KAREN who gives flying flip if these creatures can play sports this year or ever. What they did is inexcusable and they should be jailed and this not removed from their records. They are criminals. Disturbed I too have had punks like this deface a family member’s grave. Its times like these I wish they could have reached up and slapped some fear and respect into these punks. Back to "so messed up" you may think I'm too old to be speak my mind on here, but let me inform you that not only am I entitled to speak my part I can direct it to you and about your little friends who did this. Also go back to Sunday school the quote you are fishing for is “let he who is without sin cast the first stone". Baby I’m not throwing stones, I’m voting for a public flogging! PS the words are know-not no, are not r, you not u, and what not wat. I am to tired to finish correctin
Posted by: so they messed up on Aug 30, 2008 at 02:51 PM
disturbed... if u knew the lord u would no that he doesnt judge and all of yall r overreacting. The kids did it and if they r sorry then they will get wat they deserve where do yall get off talkin on the internet like yall r perfect. everyone on here has done somethin stupid in there life that they regret. in the bible does it not say let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. yall r judging kids yall dont even know and yall r to old for this. get a life
Posted by: Disturbed Location: Groesbeck on Aug 29, 2008 at 02:16 PM
This to me is a very serious matter!! These boys need to be put in some sort of juvenile facility or boot camp to show them some respect and morals, because apparently they do not have any and have never been taught any! Someone very close to me died and her gravesite was damaged by some childish, immorral person that only GOD himself will deal with one day!! I hope they know the Lord cause he will be judging them for what they have done!
Posted by: Huh? Location: Ft Hood on Aug 29, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Karen.....what???
Posted by: Dont get me started Location: Waco on Aug 29, 2008 at 07:17 AM
Make an example out of these sorry rotten juveniles. What they have done is inexcusable, you hear about this happening all too often. It is bad enough that kids today are rude and disrespectful, but now they are disrespecting the dead as well? I guess they just didn’t have anything better to do like mugging an old woman for her social security money. Rotten! Rotten kids. For starters they should be made to maintain the cemeteries they have vandalized, and then made to personally apologize to the families of the deceased if they can be found and let this stay on their records. Lord help us, we can’t even look forward to resting in peace when the time comes.
Posted by: Sherry Location: Gatesville on Aug 28, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Then each monument that they destroyed should be replaced - and these three should pay for them. And they should be shown how to properly take care of a cemetary by mowing it and pulling weeds.
Posted by: Me Location: Central Texas on Aug 28, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Make them work off the money it'll cost for repairs!
Posted by: karen Location: gatesville on Aug 28, 2008 at 08:10 PM
what happens for their punishment in school since this is a state jail felony if they are in sports?
Posted by: simple me Location: around on Aug 28, 2008 at 04:18 PM
it's a shame how two all star football players have been arrested in the last week due to STUPID.shame on you.
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