BUCKSPORT, Maine — Two teenagers are facing charges in connection with vandalism done to school property earlier this year.
Police have charged Matthew Bamford, 18, of Bucksport and Benjamin Harvey, 18, of Hampden with criminal mischief and aggravated criminal mischief.
According to Sgt. David Winchester of the Bucksport Police Department, officers initially investigated a noise complaint on April 27 at the varsity baseball field and the adjacent creative playground area. They found minor mischief had been done in the area, including a portable toilet and trash cans tipped over and swingset chains tied up.
The next morning, however, the police received a report of damage done to the softball field and the track. According to Winchester, the dugout wall had been kicked in and significant damage was done to track equipment, including pole vault poles and landing mats.
School officials estimated the damage totaled $17,500, he said. The high value of the damage elevated the charges to aggravated criminal mischief, he said.
Officers from the department followed several clues in the case which led to Bamford and Harvey, Winchester said.
In separate interviews earlier this month, both confessed to the crime and to earlier vandalism of school property, he said.
In February, school officials reported that a van parked at the high school had been damaged. Estimates of that damage were between $500 and $700.
Bamford and Harvey are scheduled to appear in Hancock County Superior Court on June 23.