Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 2 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Tampering with grave nets jail time
Published Saturday, July 4, 2009
COURTLAND—Two men have been sentenced to jail time in connection with the June 2008 desecration of a Confederate grave at the Gillette family cemetery east of Courtland.
Aaron Richard Howard, 21, and Justin Thomas Rainey, 23, appeared before Southampton County Circuit Court Judge Carl E. Eason Jr. on Thursday to be sentenced on the felony charge of attempting to disinter a dead body.
Rainey, Howard and 21-year-old Kyle Burks, who was killed in a car accident in January, were accused of trying to dig up the grave of Maj. Joseph Ezra Gillette.
Gillette served in the 13th Virginia Calvary during the Civil War. He died in 1863 from wounds he received at Brandy Station.
Eason called the act “deplorable” and sentenced Rainey and Howard to four years in prison each, but the judge suspended the majority of that time.
Rainey will serve six months in prison, and Howard will serve 45 days. Both will also be on probation for three years after they are released from prison and are required to complete community service.
Rainey received a longer sentence because the court considered his criminal history and the fact that Howard’s cooperation with authorities helped build the case against the other two defendants.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by callingdove (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How horrible to dishonor any grave. An individual digging up Indian graves is just as deplorable as that of those who defile Civil War soldiers, yet this community honors the former. I am not speaking of college trained archeologists who investigate and whose profession has now realized that "old" Indians are worthy of respect and who work closely with tribal descendents. But a so-called advocational archeologists, one local in particular, thought nothing of removing skulls and grave goods for his own use. Respect is lacking.
Posted by jaybirdflew (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, in the name of archeology, that man lead countless boyscout troops into digging up Indian sites, including graves. The bones of these people and whatever grave offerings taken home with him (not scientifically studied, just curiousities). He certainly lacked respect for Indians. Ironically, he was associated with the Civil War group and certainly would have cried fowl regarding the descrecation of the graves of these soldiers. What a double standard he lead. And yes, most people in the area are totally clueless to his vandalism thinking he was a real archeologist.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)