A man was ordered to stand trial Wednesday on charges he vandalized a cemetery in Columbia County.
David Pavloski, 19, is charged with vandalizing the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Centralia. He gave up his right to a hearing and now his case will head to trial.
Catherine Welker, one of the caretakers of the cemetery, was at hearing. "We could not believe that. And I still don't believe that it was three or four kids. I can't believe that much damage, especially some of them being girls," said Welker.
Investigators said in December Pavloski and three teenage girls toppled about 64 tombstones. The girls also face charges. There's about is about $8,300 of damage at the cemetery. Some of the tombstones are more than 100 years old and beyond repair.
The First United Methodist Church in Mount Carmel took over the cemetery in 1985. Members said they do have insurance and hope it will cover some of the cost of the vandalism.
"And obviously we are not going to be able to replace them exactly the way they were because those are no longer made," added Welker.
Pauline Getty helps take care of the cemetery. Getty also has family members buried there. "My husband's grandparents and niece and nephew are buried up there. But a lot of the Centralia people are buried up there, and we were friends of. It's very heart wrenching to see something like that," said Getty.
Pavloski's case will go to Columbia County court and the three teenage girls will be sent to juvenile court.
David Pavloski, 19, is charged with vandalizing the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Centralia. He gave up his right to a hearing and now his case will head to trial.
Catherine Welker, one of the caretakers of the cemetery, was at hearing. "We could not believe that. And I still don't believe that it was three or four kids. I can't believe that much damage, especially some of them being girls," said Welker.
Investigators said in December Pavloski and three teenage girls toppled about 64 tombstones. The girls also face charges. There's about is about $8,300 of damage at the cemetery. Some of the tombstones are more than 100 years old and beyond repair.
The First United Methodist Church in Mount Carmel took over the cemetery in 1985. Members said they do have insurance and hope it will cover some of the cost of the vandalism.
"And obviously we are not going to be able to replace them exactly the way they were because those are no longer made," added Welker.
Pauline Getty helps take care of the cemetery. Getty also has family members buried there. "My husband's grandparents and niece and nephew are buried up there. But a lot of the Centralia people are buried up there, and we were friends of. It's very heart wrenching to see something like that," said Getty.
Pavloski's case will go to Columbia County court and the three teenage girls will be sent to juvenile court.
