Teens charged with damaging church, school vandalism

KJAS

by Steve W Stewart

JASPER COUNTY -- The Jasper County Sheriff's Department says three Buna area teenagers have been arrested and charged with several crimes in south Jasper County, including extensive damage to a historical church.

Chief Deputy Ralph Nichols identified the boys as Cody Michael Kelley, and Justin Lynn Harris, both 18, and 19 year old James Brandon Cordell.

Nichols said the three began their crime spree at Evadale High School where they allegedly burglarized a concession stand, and also broke into a bus and destroyed a $5,000.00 camera system and then sprayed the bus with a fire extinguisher.

However, the most troubling accusation says the teens busted through the back door of the historical 140 year old Antioch Primitive Baptist Church on County Road 701 near Buna. Once inside, investigators say the trio damaged the old pulpit, and broke most of the windows by throwing the wooden pews through them.

Nichols said the investigation was headed up by Sheriff Mitchel Newman, along with Lieutenant Morgan Downs and Deputy Scott Jacks. Nichols said the break in the case came when Newman received a tip that directed them to Kelley, Harris and Cordell.

Nichols said that once the three were detained, investigators were able to obtain confessions from the three, although none of them offered any plausible explanation of why they committed the crimes.

Each suspect was charged with two felonies, and Nichols said more felony charges are pending.

Cody Kelley and Justin Harris remain jailed with bonds of $75,000.00 on each, while James Cordell has since been released on bond.