Emily CulpSewanee police at the University of the South in Franklin County, Tennessee, have charged two students with felony vandalism after they allegedly trashed Guerry Auditorium in late April, causing more than $10,000 in damage.
Emily Culp, a senior at the university, and Connor Peach, a junior, are each charged with vandalism $10,0000-$60,000 and burglary in connection with destruction done April 27 and 28, according to 12th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Steve Blount. Both are now free after posting $7,500 bonds. The pair had been the subject of a $10,000 offered by the Sewanee Police Department for information leading to an arrest.
The vandalism charge is a class C felony, Blount said. A class C felony, upon conviction, carries a sentence of between three and six years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Sewanee police identified and arrested Culp and Peach and said both confessed to causing the damage, according to a statement from the university, which did not name the students. Sewanee officials didn’t describe the damage but the Sewanee Messenger weekly newspaper in the university’s hometown reported that damage included broken furniture, damaged equipment, spray paint damage to walls and other items and damage from a fire extinguisher that had been sprayed around much of the auditorium.
“The auditorium was open for all commencement ceremonies and we expect it to be available for the Sewanee Summer Music Festival as well, university spokesman Parker Oliver said via email. “This remains an open matter so we cannot provide many more details right now.”