By TRAVIS MURDOCK
Six juveniles were arrested Monday for vandalism of two chapels belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Four of the boys vandalized one building and two of the boys vandalized the other building. The two incidents are not related, Orem Police Lieutenant Mike Larsen said.
“The City of Orem has experienced vandalism to six LDS churches,” Larsen said. “We have arrested a total of six boys in connection with two of the incidents. A different group committed the other four incidents of vandalism to LDS Churches.”
The boys were referred to the Utah County juvenile system for prosecution. Juveniles who commit crimes are prosecuted in the county system where they live instead of where the crime was committed as it is for adults.
“The intake officer charges the juveniles with the crime, they are arraigned and if they plead not guilty they will be referred to the county attorney,” said Mark W. Brady, deputy Utah County attorney.
Although the boys are being prosecuted on the county level, the possibility exists that they could be prosecuted federally under the newly revised “Damage to Religious Property; Obstruction of Persons in the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs Statute.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Salt Lake, the law applies to people who vandalize or damage churches because of anti-religious reasons. The statute was amended in August, eliminating the requirements of $10,000 of damage and interstate travel.
“Whoever intentionally defaces, damages or destroys any religious real property because of the race, color, or ethnic characteristics of any individual associated with that religious property, or attempts to do so, shall be punished …” according to federal title 18 section 247.
Prosecution of juveniles under a federal system presents many challenges.
“The federal system is not set up to handle juveniles except in certain cases,” said Dave Schwenieman, US Attorney first assistant. “We don’t do any investigations on our own. The case would be referred to us by local or county officials.”
Local police recommend people keep their eyes open for suspicious behavior each time they pass a church.
“Call the police department first — let us do our job,” Larsen said.
Although churches have alarms for every other possible problem the buildings lack burglar alarms.
“There are too many people coming and going from LDS churches each night to have a burglar alarm. There would be too many people with access to the code and too many false alarms,” Larsen said. “If someone is determined to get in they will get in. All we can do is try to minimize the damage.”
