From: "Steve Petruniak" <raelianca...@hotmail.com>
Date: July 28, 2008 10:25:30 PM CDT
To: restoration_c...@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Restoration Field Camp] Four fined for cave vandalism
Reply-To: restoration_c...@yahoogroups.com
Four fined for cave vandalism
Bedford man among those caught in the act
BY MARCELA CREPS mcreps@...
July 25, 2008
BLOOMINGTON — Four people caught spray painting their initials on
the wall of a Monroe County cave each will pay a $300 fine and perform
10 hours of community service work to atone for defacing the cave.
Nicholas Gillespie, 19, of Bedford, and Bloomington residents Tristan
Philip, 20, Matthew Sutton, 20, and Matthew Stone, 20, were each cited
for criminal mischief and criminal trespass. On Thursday, they pleaded
guilty and were entered in the pretrial diversion program. If they pay
their fines, complete the community service work and stay out of
trouble
for a year, the charges will be dismissed and not remain on their
records.
The foursome was caught inside Buckner Cave, in the western part of
Monroe County, on July 16. Monroe County Deputy Steve Hale went to the
cave after a person called police and reported he and some friends
were
exploring the cave when they smelled paint. After checking around, the
group determined that others were inside, possibly painting the cave
walls.
The caller told deputies he would wait at the scene to see who left
the
cave. At 9 p.m., the caller advised he was talking to four people who
had just walked out of the cave. When Hale arrived, he talked to
Gillespie, Philip, Sutton and Stone. Police said two of the four had
paint cans. At first the four said they used the paint to mark their
way
so they wouldn't get lost. Later, each admitted to painting initials
on
the cave walls.
Patti Cummings, a member of the Bloomington Indiana Grotto caving
group,
said the four men caused a lot of damage to the cave. Sam Frushour,
another member of the group, went to the cave after hearing about the
incident. Frushour was there when police arrived to cite the four men.
Cummings said people at the cave reported finding a car parked along
the
road. Believing someone might be in the cave, the group went in and
smelled the paint fumes. Another person found a receipt for paint
inside
the cave.
"They painted it on crystals, too, on quartz crystals," Cummings said.
"What they did permanently damages the cave."
The four young men were at the same cave last Saturday, attempting to
clean up the mess left behind. Cummings said sandblasting can be used
where it is environmentally appropriate. Wire brushes are also
sometimes
used. Unfortunately, sometimes there is nothing to do other than mud
wash. Mud washing means using mud to cover the graffiti.
Even after eight hours of cleaning, Cummings said, there is still
damage
to clean up. She said the paint and its fumes are not only harmful to
the cave, but to people and animals.
All the caves in Monroe County are on private property. Keeping the
public out of them is important not only to local cave enthusiasts but
to police, who called Frushour to thank him for his help. Cummings
said
police were quick to respond to the incident and were glad the local
cave lovers were interested in keeping the public out.
"We're really pleased with the way the police responded," Cummings
said.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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