Greetings NSS Cavers!
I have a conviction to announce in a prominent cave vandalism case:
If you read the final paragraphs of my April 2014 NSS News article you may remember the "infuriating" vandalism case at Georgia's Pettyjohn's Cave from 2013 when a Jewish summer camp group from New York City witnessed cave vandalism involving swastikas being spray -painted in Pettyjohn's.
I just heard from Officer Tim Gilbreath, a Conservation Ranger with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The foregoing was edited/amended with permission, by the author.
"Just off the phone with the D.A. Justin Tyler Hawkins (approximately 23 years old) pled guilty to:
1. Interference with gov't property(felony)...5 year sentence,$2050.00 fine, first offender (probation) with 90 days in incarcerated boot camp;
2. Littering...12 months;
3. Criminal Trespass on Wildlife Management Area....12 months;
And:
1. He is banned from the WMA;
2. Required to earn his GED;
3. and he is required to write a letter of apology to the leader of the summer camp group, who is also a Rabbi and Auxiliary Officer with the NYPD;
4. There were other conditions attached to convictions relating to minors that therefore cannot be released."
I have requested the Rabbi's contact information so I may contact him and will convene a meeting of the Commission to vote on awarding the maximum reward the NSS offers for a conviction in a cave vandalism case ($1000) to this youth group.
Cavers of the South (and elsewhere!): would you be willing to write a letter to this youth group or be willing to otherwise demonstrate to them (via a monetary or other donation) that the terrible experience they endured at Pettyjohn's is by no means typical of southern hospitality?
If so, please contact me at aaronbikes@live.com.
Sincerely,
Aaron Atz
Chairman, NSS Cave Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission
Birmingham, AL