Two guilty of damaging property at Chesapeake cemetery

CHESAPEAKE

Two people accused of stealing from a cemetery were convicted Monday of more than a dozen misdemeanors, and a judge sent scores of felony charges to the grand jury.

Police in September arrested Michael R. Cardona, 24, of Portsmouth, and Holly M. Chandler, 21, of Chesapeake, after hours in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens on Airline Boulevard. Police found as many as 32 bronze vases in their van, according to testimony Monday in General District Court.

Police had stepped up patrols because of a surge in such thefts.

Officer Anthony Blount testified that Cardona told him he had stolen vases from graves three or four times, cut them into pieces and sold the metal to buy formula and diapers for his child. An infant was in the van with Cardona and Chandler when they were stopped.

Chandler testified that she was only getting a ride with Cardona, and that although she knew what he was doing, she didn't want to be there.

Chief Judge Colon Whitehurst convicted them both of 16 counts each of damaging property and Cardona on one count of trespassing. Whitehurst set punishment at 10 days in jail and $100 fines for each misdemeanor. The pair immediately appealed, which affords them new trials in Circuit Court.

Whitehurst also said he heard enough evidence to send to the grand jury 16 felony counts each of grand larceny and larceny with the intent to sell, and one of damaging cemetery property, against both defendants.

Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-5221, matthew.bowers@