Four teens deny charges in golf course vandalism

LIMA - After previously apologizing and admitting to their roles in a massive vandalism incident at a local golf course, four teenagers entered denials Monday during their first chance in court to enter pleas.

One teen, identified by a prosecutor as the person who used two matches to start the fire, Robert Cody Collins, who turned 18 last week, is charged with arson and felony vandalism. The other three teens, Ryan Arnett, 17, Taylor Pinks, 15, and Aaron Sheldon, 17, are charged with felony vandalism.

All teens entered denial pleas to the charges, the equivalent of pleading not guilty. Pretrial hearings were set for Aug. 19 for each who appeared at separate hearings Monday in Allen County Juvenile Court. Sheldon is from Alger, while the others are from Ada.

The group is accused of setting on fire 14 golf carts that left them completely destroyed in the early hours of July 1 at Hawthorne Hills Golf Club in Bath Township.

Numerous other golf carts were tipped over and there was damage to the cement from the fire. It was first reported damage would exceed $100,000 but a prosecutor recently said that figure may be high.

The final figure will be up to the golf course to tally. Should that amount be more than $100,000, prosecutors might seek to try all involved as adults. Collins may be tried as an adult regardless because he was charged with arson and accused of setting the fire, Prosecutor Juergen Waldick said.

Judge Glenn Derryberry agreed to release all on electronic home arrest, although two of the teens, Collins and Sheldon, cannot be released until their parents obtain land line telephones that are need to work with the electronic ankle bracelet monitoring system.

Assistant Allen County Prosecutor Anthony Miller opposed releasing the teens.

All will be under strict requirements to remain at home and not have any contact with co-defendants or visits from friends, Derryberry ordered.

Derryberry informed each of the potential penalties if convicted, which include being sent to juvenile prison until the age of 21, probation, placement in a foster home, fines and community service. They also could be ordered to pay restitution and lose their right to drive a car until their 21st birthday.

Collins was being held in the Allen County jail because he is 18 and is struggling to adapt to being behind bars with adults, his attorney said.

Meanwhile, Josue Martinez, 18, of Ada, was the only person charged as an adult in the case because he was 18 at the time of the incident. His case has been sent to a grand jury for consideration. A magistrate ordered last week Martinez could be released from jail on electronic home arrest.

During a previous court hearing at juvenile court, either the teens or their parents admitted to or apologized for the teens' roles in the vandalism. Anything the teens said in court is recorded and can be used against them at later hearings, the judge warned before they made statements.

The teens were caught within hours of when golf course officials discovered the vandalism. Sheriff's investigators searching the area found the teens camping nearby on private property. They became suspicious of the teens while questioning them on whether they saw anything or knew anything about the incident.

A sheriff's investigator said during an earlier hearing the teens have given statements as to their involvement.

The golf course had to send away about 50 people the morning of the incident because it did not have golf carts for customers to use. The carts tipped over had to be serviced because of gasoline leaking into the engine crankcase. There also was damage to trees and landscaping.