A pair of teenage boys allegedly went on a vandalism spree, spray-painting bigoted wording and images, as well as cat faces, which caused damage estimated to total more than $8,000, according to police.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit on Tuesday, Jan. 14, arrested Matthew L. Carey-Moorly, 19, and Manny A. Wiest, 18, both from Guilderland, on several charges related to three separate incidents of vandalism throughout the Town of New Scotland. Police were able to link the two teens to the alleged crimes after photos of the graffiti were posted on social media.
The first report of graffiti was at 6:50 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13, from Voorheesville High School, which had the exterior of a building and the school’s sign spray-painted with words and images of a cat. A swastika was sprayed in front of an entrance, along with “Jews” and a heart near the symbol.
Voorheesville Superintendent of Schools Teresa Thayer Snyder sent an email out to the school community the following morning about the vandalism.
“While incidents such as these are damaging to the school and library, they are also an insult to the entire community, which has a vested interest in the properties supported by taxpayers,” Snyder said in a statement. “Our new sign was designed by a student and was funded by donations from the Voorheesville School and Community Foundation, the Kiwanis, and the dedicated efforts of a group of longtime residents.”
The next report of vandalism was received around 7:30 a.m. from a town resident, who is an employee of Voorheesville High School. The employee’s vehicle parked at their home had graffiti of a cat, words and other drawings.
About 10 minutes later, the last report of vandalism was received from the Voorheesville Public Library, which had cat images, a swastika and graphic language spray-painted on and around the library’s exterior.
Both teens were arrested on the felony charges of criminal mischief in the second degree, criminal mischief in the third degree and aggravated harassment in the first degree, and the misdemeanor charge of making graffiti. Carey-Morley was also charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a felony, for possessing a forged Colorado driver’s license.
The two teens were arraigned in New Scotland Town Court and were released under supervision of probation.