Defacing public property is a crime. Three area residents found out the hard way that local officials often take a firm stance against such behavior.

Patrick Marcum, 19, of 223 Township Road 1106, South Point, Billie Joe Ross, 19, of 174 Township Road 236 S., Kitts Hill and William E. Pence, 19, of 326 Township Road 1034, South Point, were all arraigned last week in connection with the recent vandalism at Lake Vesuvius.

Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Frank McCown refused to allow them to be released on their own recognizance and instead set bond at

$5,000 cash or $10,000 property for each of the three defendants.

Ross’ attorney, Derick Fisher contended that his client was young and made a mistake.

“She’s never been in trouble before,” he said. “She has committed no other crimes, she just graduated from high school.”

McCown contended that what they did was wrong regardless of their age or previous inexperience with the law.

“I take these charges very seriously,” he said. “I will not deviate from what I did in the case of Mr. Marcum and what I will probably do with Mr. Pence. The charge is destruction of property in the Wayne National Forest, a place of refuge for many people. It is not the place to cause this kind of havoc.”

Marcum was arraigned on one count of vandalism, one count of trafficking in marijuana and one count of misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon. Pence and Billie Jo Ross were each indicted on one count of vandalism. In May, these three adults and two juveniles were accused of spray painting the rock house at the lake.

Also last week, a Pedro man was arraigned on a charge of aggravated vehicular assault. Matthew Bloomfield, of 12246 State Route 93, is accused of playing chicken with a friend while both were driving on the same Lawrence County roadway April 29. An accident resulted from the game and the friend was injured. McCown set bond at $50,000 and ordered Bloomfield to have no contact with his victim and scheduled a July 26 pretrial conference.

An Ironton man was arraigned last week on one count of burglary and one count of tampering with evidence.

Scott Worthington, 19, of 3959 County Road 128, entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney, Warren Morford. McCown set bond at $25,000 but agreed Worthington could be released from jail after posting 10 percent of his bond.