COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The case of 19-year-old William Vanness of Coldwater, who is one of the three suspects charged in connection with the Oak Grove North Cemetery vandalism, has been bound over to Branch County Circuit Court.
A Branch County District Court preliminary exam for Vanness was held on Wednesday. His bond was continued at $350,000. Vanness is scheduled to appear for a pre trial conference in Circuit Court May 14, 2018.
18-year old Jonathon Siler of Coldwater turned himself in at the Branch County Jail Tuesday and was arraigned in Branch County District Court. Siler faces two counts of malicious destruction of property $20,000 or more to memorials and tombstones. He has a 10 percent allowed $100,000 bond with a probable cause hearing May 15, 2018.
Both Vanness and 20-year old Christopher Palmerton, Junior, are charged with malicious damage and conspiracy to damage tombstones. Both charges are ten year felonies.
Coldwater City Police say they got an anonymous tip a couple of days following the vandalism to help investigators crack the case in which more than 100 tombstones and grave markers were damaged or destroyed.
When Palmerton was arrested he was living in Battle Creek, where he reportedly moved to from Coldwater shortly after the graves at the Oak Grove North Cemetery were vandalized. Palmerton’s probable cause hearing is set for next Tuesday.
