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Local teen facing vandalism charges

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

An apparent joyride through several corn fields and a pumpkin patch has resulted in two felony charges against a 17-year-old male student at Rural Retreat High School. Petitions for felony destruction of property against the suspect are being sought by the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Sheriff Doug King, a deputy was dispatched to property at 165 Huffard Lane around 8:39 a.m. Monday in reference to vandalism. He met with Jim Huffard who reported damages to corn fields and a pumpkin patch.
King reported the officer observed corn stalks in the middle of the road at the intersection of Apple House Road and Huffard Lane off West Lee Highway. The deputy then met with John Huffard who showed him where someone had taken a vehicle and run through four corn fields leaving the immature corn destroyed, the sheriff stated.
“It appeared that the suspect vehicle was a mid-size truck or SUV by the width of the gap left,” King said.
He pointed out there were approximately four acres of corn fields that had a maze running through it from the vehicle destruction. The vehicle, the sheriff noted, also ran through approximately two acres of alfalfa that was beside the corn field and left ruts in this field.
While the officer was at the Huffard property, King said, his office received another report of similar vandalism at the nearby Williams Apple House on West Lee Highway. The deputy went to the scene where he observed that someone had driven through the pumpkin patch leaving ruts and mashing pumpkin after pumpkin in an approximately two-acre field, according to the sheriff.
King reported the suspect vehicle then crossed the road and drove through the Williamses’ sweet corn and field corn patch destroying approximately an acre of crops. The sheriff said damage from both incidents totaled approximately $10,000.
Acting on a tip, deputies went to Rural Retreat High School on Tuesday morning, Sheriff King said. They observed a parked Jeep with lots of cornstalks and pumpkin pieces lodged in the undercarriage of the vehicle, King stated.
Further investigation, he said, revealed a 17-year-old male was the alleged perpetrator of both vandalisms. Juvenile petitions are being sought charging the juvenile with two counts of felony destruction of property, according to the sheriff.
The vandalism is believed to have occurred late Sunday night, Aug. 31, or early Monday morning, Sept. 1.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .