Sheriff’s Department warns of homecoming pranks escalating to felonies

A homecoming prank is under investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department after it escalated from toilet paper to vandalism.

Up to four juveniles could be charged with felony counts of malicious mischief. The teenagers were seen on ring camera footage vandalizing a car and home by painting on it, putting salt or sugar in the gas tank, and putting food on the vehicle.

If a teenager who is participating in homecoming pranks causes financial loss, they are at risk of being charged with a felony.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter says the department is working with local high schools and has deputies patrolling neighborhoods at night and they are not against booking someone into the juvenile detention center.

Parents need to make their children aware of the risks. “Our nightshift deputies are patrolling and they know when it’s homecoming week for these school districts. They watch and see groups of these teenagers with cars, with toilet paper, and they look for them. They send them home and they contact parents, but when it comes to the point of a crime being committed of malicious mischief, there’s not going to be any calling parents. There’s going to be a visit to the juvenile detention center.”

The sheriff’s august that parents make their children aware of the risks.