DULUTH - One felony count of damage to property has been filed against each of the three teens accused of causing more than $70,000 in damage to the North Hibbing Cemetery earlier this month.
The complaint against Tyler Jared Higgins, 17, no known address, was filed in St. Louis County District Court in Hibbing last week. He entered a not guilty plea. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
The complaint against Tyler Jay Somers, 17, of Hibbing was filed this week. An arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday.
A complaint against a 13-year-old Hibbing girl also was filed this week. Because of her age, her court record is not public.
The three are accused of vandalizing about 100 gravestones at the North Hibbing Cemetery over the weekend of June 5-6. A number of the gravestones were damaged beyond repair. Some were old enough to display the names of Civil War veterans. The cemetery's sexton has placed the damage -- including materials and staff time for repairs -- at about $73,300, Hibbing Police Sgt. Jeff Ronchetti said.
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Police arrested the three last week after the girl attempted to claim a reward for information on the vandalism by implicating others.
The Duluth News Tribune and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
