East Texas

By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer

WILLS POINT-A Van Zandt County Constable busted up five teens' fun last week when they were arrested for mailbox smashing.

"Many of these kids are not thinking they could mess up their lives over a mailbox," said C.B. Wiley, Precinct 2 constable, who took the teens into custody last week.

The teens, if convicted, are facing up to $500 in fines for each smashed mailbox, three months probation and an additional $500 in court costs for criminal mischief.

Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Court Judge Ronnie Dainels said the boys are also going to have to face their victims and replace the mailboxes.

On March 15 at around 3:45 p.m., a resident on Van Zandt County Road 2501 told police a silver, older-model Ford four-door occupied by five teen males was driving along the county road bashing mailboxes. The witness was able to get a license plate number.

With the license plate number in hand, Constable Wiley tracked down the vehicle's owner, who was quick to hand over his accomplices.

Throughout the investigation, the constable's officer learned that more than 16 mailboxes were smashed on three separate county roads. Authorities also learned the vehicle the teens were driving was suspected of involvement in a Wal-Mart gas drive-off.

Two of the teens were taken into custody and transported to the Grand Saline Juvenile Detention Unit.

Wiley said that when the cost of labor, damage to the mailbox and loss of mail added up, mailbox bashing can be an expensive for the victim. Many of the damaged mailbox owners are elderly and depend on the boxes to get their Social Security and retirement checks, he said.

"The damage done by these thugs with nothing to do is far reaching. The cost of a mailbox means that medication, food and other items has to be missed this month," Wiley said.

If the cases were filed in federal court, they could face two to 10 years in a federal penitentiary because it involves interfering with the delivery of U.S. mail, a federal crime.

Daniels added that, for the most part, mailbox bashing cases are left for local law enforcement to handle.

Wiley said that anyone with information on mailbox smashers should contact their local law enforcement agency.