Charges pending in vandalism case

On the night of Tuesday, June 24, some juveniles allegedly entered the Hot Springs County Recreation District Garage and caused damage. They also painted graffiti at the skate park.

Inside the garage, the subjects spray painted a John Deere Gator side by side with an obscene image. A five-gallon bucket of paint was dumped all over the floor.

The investigating officer could tell the Gator was driven because there were tire tracks through the paint. Signs hanging on fences were spray painted, the light pole in the center of the ball field was painted and cans of spray paint were thrown throughout the complex. The subjects also painted inappropriate graffiti at the skate park.

A set of keys were also taken. The keys allowed them entry to other buildings. 

Initially, officer Jessica Araiza saw a juvenile walking down the street, made contact with him and observed white paint on his clothing. This then led to the investigation determining there were possibly four juveniles involved. Charges are pending for the damages.

According to Thermopolis Police Chief Julie Mathews, “It’s a felony in nature, there are juveniles involved and the matter was sent over to the county attorney’s office for review. The charges may include burglary, vandalism, curfew violations, driving the Gator without a license and more. Charges will be determined by the county attorney’s office because of the age of these kids.” 

The two juvenile subjects’ ages are 13 and 14. Mathews added, “There were others there, but the majority of the damage was done by these two. The others present don’t appear to have partook in the damage.”

Employees of Smith’s Oilfield power washed the items with paint on them and cleaned them up. Chief Mathews said, “This is pretty severe what they did and the amount of damages they caused. What they wrote and portrayed in their images was highly inappropriate and Thermopolis is better than that.”