Third cemetery vandal to serve 2-year sentence

Local News

April 17, 2011

By Ronica Shannon Register News Writer The Richmond Register Sun Apr 17, 2011, 12:22 AM EDT

RICHMOND — A Waco woman who pleaded guilty to destroying approximately 150 grave markers in the Richmond Cemetery was denied probation Thursday, and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Sara Elizabeth Smart, 20, of Waco, was sentenced in Madison Circuit Court by Judge William G. Clouse.

She received a two-year sentence for violating the graves and 90 days for second-degree criminal trespassing, but the time will be served at concurrently.

Smart also was ordered to pay $39,070 in restitution. She reported to the Madison County Detention Center on Friday, according to jail personnel.

After the sentencing, Clouse said Smart eventually may be eligible for shock probation.

Smart was charged along with two other people, 25-year-old Joseph Dewayne Combs, of Altamont Street, and William Damien Gross, 19, of Keri Ann Drive, in connection with the April 3, 2010, incident.

The damaged markers dated from the 1850s to the early 20th century. Many of the markers were chipped or cracked, while some crumbled after being knocked down, according to police.

Richmond Police Detective Matt Boyle testified in district court last year about how Smart became a suspect in his investigation.

The officer said all three suspects admitted that after a night of drinking at the Cherry Pit, they went to the cemetery to continue drinking. Gross and Combs both claimed that all three were involved in the destruction of the grave markers, Boyle testified.

Gross was sentenced to two years incarceration and Combs was sentenced to five years.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@ richmondregister.com or 624-6608.

Text Only

Local News

Paradise Cove open through Labor Day Opening day of Paradise Cove Family Aquatic Center coincided with a spike in temperatures Friday which reached 90 degrees. The facility, located in Richmond’s Lake Reba Park, will be open through Sept. 3. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
May 26, 2012
Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level.

May 26, 2012
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment.

May 26, 2012
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Pets of the Week from the Madison County Animal Shelter
The Madison County Animal Shelter is located at 1386 Richmond Road in Berea. Shelter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Animals available for adoption can be seen from noon to close Monday through Saturday. The adoption fee for cats and kittens is $10. Puppies and grown dogs may be adopted for $25. Adoptions include a free veterinary exam, a first series of vaccinations, a discount on spaying and neutering, free licensing and de-worming. Call the shelter at 986-9625.

May 25, 2012 2 Photos
A big sister’s reflection on life, love and changes
Yesterday was my Little Sister’s graduation. This one, though, was especially important to me.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
Veterans will conduct Memorial Day programs
Although Memorial Day weekend may be a time of picnics and barbecue for many, some will be observing the day’s original meaning.

May 24, 2012
EKU Arts Center attendance tops 50,000 mark
The Center for the Arts at Eastern Kentucky University has played host during its inaugural season to more than 50,500 guests from more than 30 states and abroad, according to data released by EKU.

May 24, 2012 3 Photos
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Third cemetery vandal to serve 2-year sentence

A recent health ranking listed Madison County as the 20th healthiest county in the state. It measured factors such as exercise, access to health care and smoking. Do you smoke cigarettes?

Site Map