ORANGE, Texas — Two suspects have been arrested and charged after the Little Cypress Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District Stadium was vandalized.
It happened overnight on Sunday, October 23. Two suspects, now identified as Ryan Dee Bergeron, 18, and Johnney Davis, 18, defaced the middle logo, press box and away concession stand at the Battlin' Bear Stadium.
Investigators with the Orange Sheriff’s Office began investigating the crime, and identified the two suspects on Monday, October 24.
One of the suspects confessed to the crime, according to a press release from the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
A second suspect was located on Tuesday, October 25 and was arrested on an unrelated charge.
Investigators were also able to get a confession from the second suspect Tuesday evening, according to the release.
Judge Courtney Arkeen issued the felony warrants for Bergeron and Davis.
One suspect is currently a student at Little Cypress Mauriceville High School High School. The second suspect is currently enrolled in a Nederland Independent School District school, but was previously a student at LCM High School.
Officials believe the vandalism was committed in an attempt to stoke tensions and rivalry between LCM and Lumberton before their football game on Friday, October 28, according to the press release.
Both Bergeron and Davis are charged with criminal mischief, a third degree felony.
Bergeron and Davis are currently in custody in the Orange County Jail and have been served with the warrant.
"From the moment this kicked off the one thing that I need to give credit to is not just the student body, but we got a lot of calls from multiple students from different districts stepping up to do the right thing. I commend those kids for providing the information they could," Captain Joey Jacobs told 12News.
A school district source tells 12News, Davis is a senior at LCM. The district plans to pursue expelling him after this incident, according to the source.
Students and staff expressed their disappointment in seeing their newly renovated stadium tainted with graffiti over the weekend.
"We only performed four games on it we had such a great time performing on it. It was sad to see something that we worked and enjoyed for such a little time be deteriorated by someone trying to have a good time," said LCM Student Yuliana Newell.
Newell had never heard of them before, but she did know one of them went to her school.
Investigators say by Tuesday both Davis and Bergeron had confessed to being the hooded men seen in the surveillance video, spray painting the press box and football field.
"I'm glad that they're taking responsibility and I hope that in the future we can use this as an learning opportunity to uplift ourselves and know that we are better than this," said Newell.
Parent Shelly Fuller says she and her son are glad to finally have answers.
"One of the first things he said was 'where are we going to practice because they had a game to get ready for this week' but they understand things happen," she said.
LCM Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Eric Peevey is relieved the suspects have been caught.
"I hate that they felt like they had to do something like this to get noticed but now they'll serve their punishment," he said.
The suspects were caught on camera. Curse words could be seen on the signs and buildings.
When Stacie Brister, Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD superintendent, received word about the crime, she immediately went to check it out.
“It's so hard to be able to get these facilities, and we're so proud of what's been produced, and these things didn't come easily," Brister previously told 12News.
Brister believed the vandals got onto the property through fencing that has been under construction. She said the security cameras point toward the field and stadium parking lot.
Brister wants Little Cypress Mauriceville students to know the district does not condone retaliation before they play against the Lumberton Raiders.
“We have been encouraging our kids that we do not retaliate, in the sense that we go across town and do something to another school,” Brister said. “I know this is going to be a hard-fought game. I think there will be a lot of emotion."
A clean-up spent Monday morning washing away graffiti from stadium facilities. District officials believe it will cost thousands to have other buildings repainted.
"We were power washing and trying to get as much of the paint off of our facilities as we could,” Brister said. “As far as the things on buildings and signs and things like that we are letting the specialists come in and look at the turf."
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