The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says that nearly two dozen trees were cut down overnight around River Valley High School. Investigators have learned the destruction was caused by several students as part of a “senior prank.”
A deputy discovered the destruction at approximately 12:45am on Thursday, May 8, 2014 while on patrol.
In all, 23 trees on the school campus at 4280 State Route 95 East had been cut down with chainsaws. The trees were aged anywhere from one year to over 10 years old.
In the course of the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office reported that five River Valley seniors were interviewed about their involvement. All five are current River Valley students and attend either River Valley High School or Tri-Rivers. Some of the suspects are 18 years old but at least one of them is 17 years old.
Sheriff’s Office officials said the case is now being forwarded to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for review of possible charges against all five of the students. The students were not identified as they have not yet been charged with a crime.
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