From the Thurs. 7/28 NPS "Morning Report:
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (WV)
Sentencing in Jefferson Rock Vandalism Case
On July 26th, the three men found guilty of vandalizing Jefferson Rock were sentenced in federal district court in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Park employees found the historic rock covered in bright red paint when they came to work on December 23, 2004. The sentences were as follows:
Robert O. Hopkins, 20, was sentenced to three years probation, restitution to Harpers Ferry NHP in the amount of $3,644.74, and 250 hours of community service for damage to government property.
Steven N Hopkins, 19, was sentenced to three years probation, restitution to Harpers Ferry NHP in the amount of $3,644.74, and 250 hours of community service for damage to government property.
Nicholas B. Vlachos, 23, was sentenced to six months probation, 80 hours of community service, and $500 in restitution for accessory after the fact.
The restitution covered what the park had to pay for the restoration of the rock back to its original state. The judge indicated that he would have had the defendants also pay the government back for the law enforcement costs if he felt that they had the means to do so. The entire case cost the park over $14,000.
The issuance of the sentences also made it possible for the park to provide additional information on how swiftly the three men were identified and confessed to their crime. In the early morning hours of December 23, 2004, a Harpers Ferry police officer caught the suspects literally “red handed.” Officer Brian Dolan stopped a car for speeding on residential streets. The occupants of the car had red hands and their pants and shoes had red paint spotted and smeared on them. Unable to associate them with a crime, he identified all three and released them. In the morning, when the damage was discovered in the park, rangers had the names of the suspects and an in-car video from Dolan’s patrol car. Harpers Ferry rangers were able to obtain search warrants for the suspects’ car and residence. With the assistance of C&O Canal rangers, the warrants were successfully executed and confessions were obtained in subsequent interviews. Less than 24 hours after the crime was committed, the case was very nearly closed. A juvenile who was with the three men was also prosecuted in the county court system.
[Submitted by Jennifer Flynn, Chief Ranger]
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