Teen waives hearing for attacking statue at Rostraver church

WEST NEWTON - An 18-year-old man charged in connection with damaging a statue of Jesus at a Rostraver Township church waived his case to court on Monday.

Another person charged in the case, meanwhile, saw additional charges against him filed by Rostraver Township police in connection with another incident at the church.

Carmen Edward Yates Jr., 309 Matthews Road, Belle Vernon, had been charged with institutional vandalism, criminal conspiracy, criminal mischief and possessing instruments of crime in connection with a July 8 incident in which the statue of Jesus at St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church was damaged.

Yates was scheduled to have his preliminary hearing Monday before Magisterial District Judge Charles Christner.

The Rev. Ron Simboli, pastor of the church, said the statue incurred $3,430 in damages.

Arresting officer Rob Glass said that Yates allegedly drove a car that was involved in the incident.

Also charged in the same incident is Eric Letterio, 18, of 318 West Main St., West Newton.

Letterio's preliminary hearing was continued until Oct. 31 before Christner.

Glass said that additional charges of institutional vandalism and criminal mischief in connection with a previous incident at the church have been filed against Letterio.

Simboli said the statue at his church had been damaged on another occasion about a month before the July 8 incident.

Letterio, who is free on bond, is being charged with that crime as well.