Teens charged in vandalisms

Five teenagers have been linked to a number of recent vandalisms in the City of Aiken, including spray painting a dozen or more profanities at South Aiken High School last month during a teacher furlough day.

Two of the five suspects charged are juveniles and will not be publicly identified by Aiken Public Safety.

The younger two boys are 13 and 16, police said.

The other three suspects were arrested Monday and taken to the Aiken County detention center.

Andrew D. Meisenheimer, 18, of Crawford Avenue in Aiken, is charged with three counts of illegal graffiti/vandalism.

Nickalas R. Myers, 17, of Hobcaw Court, is charged with two counts of illegal graffiti/vandalism.

Landon J. Yarosh, 17, of Lyon Drive, is charged with two counts of illegal graffiti/vandalism.

In addition to the high school, police have connected the suspects to spray paint vandalisms at Target, Aldi and Reid's. The damages at the high school alone have totaled in excess of $1,700.

"The court can issue restitution," said Capt. Wendell Hall, a spokesperson for Aiken Public Safety.

Investigators said they tracked down the vandals after they recovered Walmart video showing several teenagers buying spray paint at the Supercenter the night before the school was vandalized.

A school resource officer identified one of the teenagers, and investigators were able to connect the others, Hall said.

Meisenheimer, Myers and Yarosh are or had been students at South Aiken High School.

Meisenheimer's bond was set at $3,277.50. Bond for each Myers and Yarosh was set at $2,185.

Investigators said the "tagging" incidents are not gang-related.

"It was mischievous," Hall said. "They said they were bored."

There have been other buildings tagged in Aiken recently, but police said those are not connected to the incidents involving these teenagers.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.