Andrew D. Mycoskie, 17, of Peachtree City, has been

charged with 19 counts of criminal damage to property in a case

apparently involving jumping on and otherwise damaging

expensive cars at local automobile businesses.

Operators of Goodson's Import Auto Repair, Peachtree

Auto Leasing, Auto Pro and Peachtree Paint and Body Shop found

numerous, mostly foreign ,cars, with crushed hoods, roofs

and windshields on the morning of Aug. 6. Peachtree City police

detectives David Hill and Sgt. Tom Jackson arrested and

charged Mycoskie after following leads from previous vandalism

cases, Police Chief James Murray said.

Murray said that the felony offense of second-degree

criminal property damage carries a maximum penalty of one-to-five

years in prison. Intentional damages over $500 are "about the same

as auto theft," Murray added.

Local shop operators have estimated damages to the 19

vehicles, including one golf cart, at more than $30,000. Most of

the cars were imports, including Porches, Mercedes and Jaguars.

Mycoskie remained in Fayette County Jail under $56,000

bond as of press time. Murray said the bond amount was for the first

17 charges, and when warrants are served for the final two

charges, additional bond will likely be added.

A "probable cause" hearing for Mycoskie is set for Sept. 3

in Fayette County Magistrate Court, Murray said.

OTHER POLICE CASES

Jeff Weaver, 19, was charged with rape and statutory rape

on Aug. 14. Murray said the arrest followed investigation of an

assault on a former girlfriend of Weaver's, and is Peachtree

City's first reported rape case for 1998.

The chief added that the arrest of a 15-year-old may solve

a string of golf-cart thefts plaguing the city. The juvenile has

been charged with 11 counts of theft by taking of a motor vehicle,

he said.

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