Fort Kent church vandals revealed

FORT KENT – Police have uncovered three local youths involved in a series of vandalism cases that occurred 20 days ago, but they are still looking for whoever took a teacher’s purse which contained more than $2,000.

Police Chief Kenneth Michaud said a 15-year-old girl was charged with criminal mischief for her alleged involvement in the desecration of a local church and damage at the Fort Kent Blockhouse National Historic site.

He was grateful for information he received from parents who overheard young people talking about the incidents.

Two other juveniles, who admitted their parts in the incidents and agreed to pay for damages and write letters of apology, were turned over to their parents.

From the start of the incidents Michaud hoped the public would assist police, who had few leads.

Problems started when students were out of school during the harvest recess Sept. 22. Dale Desjardins’ purse was taken at the Fort Kent Elementary School. The purse – which contained more than $2,000 and all of her identification – had been left on her schoolroom desk and disappeared during the day’s sixth period.

The black purse has not been recovered, and the incident remains unsolved, Michaud said.

The youths he dealt with this week were also involved in an incident that happened on Sept. 24.

The next day a worker at the St. Louis Catholic Parish reported vandalism at the Main Street church.

Someone used blue spray paint to write “Satan” on an exterior wall.

The following week, several signs were ripped from buildings at the Fort Kent Blockhouse complex. The signs were found up the area’s flagpole. They were tied to the pole’s rope, painted over and pulled up.