Recent South Burlington High School Grad Arrested For Spraypainting Racial Slur
A recent South Burlington HS graduate is facing felony unlawful mischief charges for spray-painting a racial slur on the school’s AstroTurf field.
18-year-old Tyler Austin was identified as the suspect during a news conference Friday, according to the Burlington Free Press:
“I hope that this will send a message, as have other actions we’ve taken in this community, that we take these things really seriously. Our entire community is offended by this type of behavior. It’s not acceptable,” Chief Trevor Whipple said at a news conference.
Whipple chose not to speak on the exact slur that was painted and who it may have been directed at, saying, “”It’s my feeling that to repeat them, re-inflicts harm on someone and I choose not to do that.”
Whipple also explained why the incident was not considered a hate crime.
“Clearly the law was written to apply to an individual, a crime against a person, and in this case we have a crime against an object, that being the field, and the victim being the school district,” Whipple said.
News of the incident broke last month on June 6, when the South Burlington Police Department received a complaint of vandalism regarding the graffiti in a field behind the high school and middle school during a school budget revote.
While Whipple wouldn’t speculate about the motive for the slur, Seven Days VT reported that another 2017 graduate, Isaiah Hines was the target of the graffiti because he successfully led the push to change the school’s “Rebels” nickname.
Seven Days profiled Isaiah Hines last month, highlighting his campaign to drop the “Rebels” team name from South Burlington High School.
“I was horrified. Horrified,” his mother, Krishna Hines, said after hearing about the graffiti. “When the school called me to tell me what was written, I was in tears.”
Hines says that despite graduating with Austin, he wasn’t familiar with the suspect at all.
“I don’ t know him at all,” Hines said. “I never really had any sort of interaction with him.”
Whipple also told the media that the investigation is still open and the prosecution has the option to add more charges after reviewing the findings.
Austin has been issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court Criminal Division on Thursday, Aug. 24.
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Hit the flip for Chyna's latest breakdown on what went wrong with her and Rob's relationship.
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We already shared the first part of Chyna's exclusive with People Magazine, the magazine just dropped another part of the interview where she describes in detail how it all went so left and Chyna reveals the couple didn't live together for much of their relationship:
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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 24: Reality TV personality Yandy Smith and fiancee Mendeecees Harris attend the 2015 Dance Theatre Of Harlem Vision Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on February 24, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)[/caption]
attends the VH1 Big In 2015 with Entertainment Weekly Awards at Pacific Design Center on November 15, 2015 in West Hollywood, California.[/caption]
However, Mendeecees argued in his appeal that even though he OK’d the plea, it was ultimately up to the judge to make sure that the sentence was within the appropriate guidelines. He also argued that the amount of drugs distributed in the ring were irrelevant because he maintained that his role was that of a relatively minor courier - not a kingpin.
Mendeecees has maintained that there was no evidence that he knew the ins and outs of the drug ring or had decision making authority.
In his appeal, Mendeecees' lawyer characterized the Harlem man as a model suspect and inmate: turning himself in voluntarily before his sentencing, agreeing to forfeit nearly $200,000 in income from “Love & Hip Hop” and speaking to kids to warn them about street life and drug dealing.
On the inside, the father of four said he successfully completed a substance abuse prevention program, classes on how to parent from prison and courses in money management, health and nutrition and public speaking.
His lawyer argued that the court should have also taken into consideration that he is the breadwinner for four young chidren, his rough childhood and how he parlayed that into a reality show role.
A judge has yet to rule on Mendeecees’ appeal.
FAMA PRESS / Splash News[/caption]
FAMA PRESS / Splash News[/caption]
We love seeing how devoted J.R. is to his wife and daughter.
Hit the flip for more great images
https://instagram.com/p/BWu6Mv_DJlM/?taken-by=teamswish
J.R. also posted about the trip on his Instagram
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https://instagram.com/p/BW7p-4eDsoD/?taken-by=teamswish
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#305,”Alex captioned a photo from their party.
Later they were spotted enjoying a romantic dinner at Prime 112.
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Ain't they cute?
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Fenty fans seem to be split down the middle now, with pregnancy allegations.. Take a look after the flip.
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