by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Four Wellington men have been charged with the Jan. 31 vandalism of 21 downtown Wellington properties.

The four young adults formerly charged by Sumner County Attorney Kerwin Spencer are:

•Eugene McCormick born in 1992, of Wellington;

•Eli Schmeidler, born in 1989, of Wellington;

•Cyrus Cunningham, born in 1992, of Wellington;

•Dylan Pacchelli, born in 1993, of Wellington.

The four have been charged with two felonies and four misdemeanors that caused an estimated total damage of $5,499 to the downtown area.

The four men, all adults, are each being charged with: 

•Conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property, a Level 10 felony;

•Criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor;

•Criminal damage to property, a level 9 felony;

•Criminal damage to property, a Class A felony;

•Criminal damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor;

•Criminal damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor.

The incident took place Friday morning at 4:45 a.m. when the young males allegedly went to Wellington Wal-Mart and purchased cans of spray paint and markers to use to deface buildings and other property in Wellington. McCormick, Schmeidler, Cunningham and Pacchelli are accused of painting and writing on the building walls – inside and outside buildings.

The four are accused of entering the unoccupied “Old Smith Building” or Glasco building at 102 S. Washington owned by Karl Braddick of Dallas. They allegedly passed through the fenced off area and went inside through an unlocked door. Once there, they allegedly painted on the walls inside the building. The estimated cost to repair these walls was $1,255, according to the criminal complaint docket.

The four also allegedly spray painted garage doors and building at a Tom McAlister building at 112 S. Washington which would cost $829 to remove or cover up.

The list of other vandalized properties include:

Security State Bank, 101 N. Washington – $100.

Allison Rusk, 116 W. Lincoln, $100.

Shawn Weaver, 214 S. Washington, $100.

Mariah Prit, 112 E. Lincoln, $50.

American Legion, 124 W. Lincoln, $465.

Jan Spivak, 107 W. Lincoln, $100.

Floor Mart, 106 S. Washington, $100.

Security State Bank Drive Thru, $100.

Kim Brayant, 111 N. Jefferson, $100;

Security First Title, 116 E. Harvey, $100;

City of Wellington, 208 N. Washington, $40;

Gatehouse Media/Wellington Daily News, 115 W. Harvey, $50.

Carter Green, 110 W. Harvey, $840;

Rural Truck service, 114 W. Harvey, $50;

Ron Church, 210 S. Washington, $285;

Renn & Co. (Greg Renn), 209 S. Washington , $50;

John T. Stewart,II, 202 S. Washington, $50;

Chad Renn, 122 E. Harvey, $0; and Tom McAllister, 110 E. Lincoln, $585.

Spencer separated a Class A misdemeanor charge against the young males for the spray painting and marked graffiti on the front window and an exterior wall to the Family Hair Parlor at 215 S. Washington, owned by Julie Russell.

The vandalism appeared to have taken place in a two-hour timeframe, said Wellington City Police Chief Tracy Heath.

“The guys at the department did a heck of a job,” Heath said in an interview two weeks ago. “We were able to get a lead shortly after the incident took place and secure who was involved shortly after the crime was committed. We are hopeful this will come to a successful conclusion.”

Charges were formerly introduced to the district court on Feb. 28. The reason for the month delay was gathering up the number of businesses for which criminal damage had occurred Heath said. He estimated it took about two weeks for property owners to make damage reports to the city.

No court hearings have been scheduled at this time according to the court dockets.