COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Battle Creek man was formally charged Friday in connection with the major damage and destruction of gravestones last month at the Oak Grove North cemetery on Coldwater’s west side.
Prosecutors charged 20-year old Christopher Palmerton Junior with two counts. He is facing charges of Malicious Destruction of Tombs and Memorials over $20,000 as well as a charge of conspiracy to commit Malicious Destruction of Tombs and Memorials over $20,000.
Bond was set at $30,000 with ten percent allowed. A probable cause hearing was scheduled for May 8 with a preliminary exam May 15, 2018.
Palmerton turned himself in Thursday afternoon at the Branch County Jail. Coldwater Police say they got an anonymous tip a couple of days following the vandalism and that helped investigators develop a case against Palmerton.
Over 100 memorials, monuments and gravestones in the cemetery located on the west side of the city along US 12 were damaged or destroyed sometime between the afternoon of Tuesday, March 6 and Wednesday afternoon March 7, 2018.
A warrant for Palmerton’s arrest was issued April 18. Police think there may be more than one person was involved.
