NEWS

Vandalism suspects charged in weekend fight

Bethany Bruner
Reporter

NEWARK – Three teenagers suspected in a vandalism spree that damaged about 100 cars over the weekend have been charged in relation to a fight.

Police said they expect to file vandalism charges with the prosecuting attorney on Tuesday as they work to complete the case against the suspects.

Steven Burns, 18, last known address 252 Woods Ave., Newark, Austin Yantis, 16, last known address 16 Mill St., Newark, and John Wood, 17, last known address 265 Essex St., Newark, were all charged Monday with felonious assault. Yantis and Wood were charged in Licking County Juvenile Court with the second-degree felony equivalency charge and Burns was charged in Licking County Common Pleas Court.

According to court documents and a police report, the three teens are suspected of assaulting a person on Daugherty Circle early Saturday morning. A fourth teen is also listed on the police report as being a suspect.

Court documents show the three teens are suspected of going to the home of the victim's neighbor in an attempt to "fight (the victim's) neighbor's daughter." When the victim asked the group of teens to leave, he was reportedly shoved down and punched and kicked repeatedly.

Court documents indicate the victim suffered a broken nose and orbital fracture that may require surgery. Yantis and Wood reportedly admitted to participating in the assault. Court records show Burns admitted to being present, but denied being involved in the actual assault, despite witness statements implicating him.

The teens were stopped by police early Sunday morning in the area of Rosehill Avenue after an officer recognized the vehicle as matching the description of a car that had been involved in a vandalism spree.

Newark police received more than 70 calls from victims of the vandalism as of Monday morning and that number continued to climb, Sgt. Paul Davis said.

BB guns, BB ammunition and CO2 cartridges were located in the vehicle in plain sight when the officer approached, Davis said.

All three were taken into custody and at least one of the teens confessed in relation to the vandalism.

Burns appeared before Magistrate Mattie Klein for a bond hearing Monday afternoon. His bond was set at $35,000.

Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Paula Sawyers said a grand jury will likely consider the vandalism charges along with the felonious assault charges in the coming weeks.

Yantis and Wood both appeared before Licking County Juvenile Court Judge Robert Hoover Monday afternoon and entered deny pleas to the charges against them.

Hoover ordered both teens be held in juvenile detention.

Wood also appeared for a probation violation related to a previous theft charge, according to court records. His case is set for a trial in June.

Yantis's case is set for a trial in May. He also appeared Monday morning before Juvenile Court Magistrate Jeffrey Plunkett for six unrelated charges of criminal damaging.

According to court documents, Yantis is suspected of taking a stake from the ground and damaging at least six different cars in the Locust Avenue area of Newark on Jan. 22. He entered deny pleas to all charges and the case will be set for trial in the coming weeks.

If you were a victim in the weekend vandalism and would like to share your story for a possible upcoming article, please contact reporter Bethany Bruner at 740-328-8543 or bbruner@newarkadvocate.com.