Four Radcliff men are facing charges in connection to vandalism and thefts at graveyards in Hardin County, according to a news release from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court records, Gaven Carayoan, 43, Jesse Barcinas, 33, and Joseph Mendiola, 30, are facing multiple counts of violating graves and theft by unlawful taking or disposition. Tomas Bernardo, 45, was charged with multiple counts of receiving stolen property in an amount between $1,000 and $10,000 and violating graves.
All four men are being held at the Hardin County Detention Center. Information regarding their bonds is not yet available.
It is unclear when the four men are scheduled to appear in court.
Investigators said they began collecting evidence of stolen and vandalized property from local scrap yards Sept. 22 and began interviewing people of interest the following day, leading to the arrest of the men.
“The desecration of graves is among the most disturbing crimes we could encounter, and it strikes at the heart of our community’s values,” Hardin County Sheriff John Ward said in a statement. “I want to commend our Detective Unit for their outstanding work in swiftly identifying suspects and making arrests in this case. Their expertise and dedication reflect the very best of law enforcement, and I want to assure our citizens that we will continue working tirelessly until every individual responsible is held accountable.”
The case remains under investigation.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 4 charged after reports of vandalism, thefts at Hardin Co. graveyards