Three people accused of vandalizing an area around Lake Vesuvius will have to perform 500 hours of community service as part of their punishment.

Patrick Marcum, 20, 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, all pleaded guilty last week in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Marcum was sentenced to four years community controlled sanctions and ordered to perform the community service for his vandalism charge but also received four years probation and a $1,250 fine for possession of marijuana.

Judge Frank McCown also sentenced Marcum to six months in the Lawrence County jail for the charge of carrying a concealed weapon, but the jail term was suspended in lieu of probation. All of his sentences are to be served concurrently.

McCown sentenced Pence and Ross to four years community controlled sanctions plus the community service for their guilty pleas to a single count each of vandalism.

Since the incident occurred, Ross and Marcum have married. Ross’ parents accompanied the pair to court Wednesday and watched as first their daughter was sentenced and then their new son-in-law went before the judge.

“It seems to me that you owe them an apology and you owe your family an apology,” McCown told Marcum. “I hope the two of you can work things out. I hope you won’t teach her any bad habits and she won’t teach you any bad habits.”

Also Wednesday, Ryan Langley, 27, of County Road 15, Chesapeake, pleaded guilty on a

bill of information to two counts of theft.

McCown sentenced Langley to four years community controlled sanctions under intensive supervised probation but gave him credit for time served awaiting resolution of his case. Langley must also complete a rehabilitation program at the STAR Criminal Justice Center.

Earlier this week, a Lawrence County man accused of rape was arraigned in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

William Rigsby, 41, of 717 Township Road 184 W, Pedro, was indicted earlier this month on a single count of rape. McCown set bond at $100,000 and ordered Rigsby to return to court Aug. 9 for a pretrial conference. He remains in the Lawrence County Jail.