Teen vandal admits being 'extremely wrong and stupid'

LIMA - Two of the four teenagers charged with vandalism after 14 motorized carts were torched at a local golf course admitted to participating in what one called "a prank that went really bad."

Robert Cody Collins, 17, of Ada, called it a prank while his mother sitting next to him asked Allen County Juvenile Judge Glenn Derryberry to allow him to come home. The judge denied his request and the request of the three others.

"I know what I did was extremely wrong and stupid. I didn't mean for it to turn out that way when we started the whole escapade," he said.

Ryan Arnett, 17, of Salyersville, Ky., apologized for the damage he caused but denied starting the fire. Taylor Pinks, 15, of Ada, and Aaron Sheldon, 17, of Alger, were in court. Neither confessed to the crime, but their parents admitted their sons were involved in one way or another.

Meanwhile, across town at Lima Municipal Court, the only adult charged, Josue R. Martinez, 18, of Ada, was held on a $10,000 bond on a felony vandalism charge. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 10.

The five are accused of tipping over or damaging more than 50 golf carts at Hawthorne Hills Golf Club in Bath Township. Fourteen motorized carts were tipped over and set on fire which left behind charred shells.

Golf course officials estimate there could be as much as $150,000 in damage.

Read more about this story in Thursday's The Lima News.