Grave robbers sentenced to cleanup
BROOKSVILLE –
Two teenagers accused of stealing a skull from a historic cemetery received their sentences on Thursday.
Nicholas Macchione, 17, was named by authorities as the suspect who broke open a crypt at the old Spring Hill Cemetery and removed a skull from inside. He was accompanied by Seth McCarty, 19, who would later be arrested as an accomplice.
A third suspect, Joel Rivera, was arrested at the same time in June, but charges were dropped because there was no evidence he was an active participant, said Assistant State Attorney Erin Daly.
The grave desecration was discovered by a deputy patrolling the cemetery, which has a haunted reputation and attracts litterbugs and drug addicts. As the deputy investigated the broken tomb, the suspects walked out of the woods.
They eventually confessed to taking the skull home and soaking it in bleach, according to reports. The skull was recovered and will be reburied.
On Thursday, McCarty was entered into a pre-trial intervention program, which will allow him to avoid a felony conviction if he meets the program’s conditions. Those include 50 hours of community service cleaning up the cemetery.
Macchione’s charge was reduced to misdemeanor criminal mischief and he must also serve a year of probation. Like McCarty, he must also spend 50 hours cleaning up the cemetery.
The pair will also split a $500 cost for burying the remains and fixing the broken crypt. A condition of their sentence is that they post on at least 10 Web sites that Spring Hill Cemetery is not haunted and that trespassers on the private property will be arrested.
Also Thursday:
*Another person arrested in connection with a murder-for-hire scheme took a plea deal. Esnel Baptiste was charged with home invasion and kidnapping while armed after breaking into a home on Nightwalker Road to kill Fenol Francois, according to reports.
Francois’ wife, Jacqucia Francois, had used an Orlando contact to hire Baptiste and two other men as assassins, according to authorities. Jacqucia Francois accepted four years in prison in July for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Baptiste took three years on Thursday for a lesser offense of aggravated assault; he faced life in prison if convicted. The lawyer for another co-defendant, Frans Guerrier, indicated Thursday that a plea bargain would probably be taken on Oct. 5.
Still outstanding is the case of Kedner Noel, the man authorities say arranged for the hit on Fenol Francois. A third hit man, known only as “Mitch,” has not been arrested.
Circuit Judge Jack Springstead denied a motion to reduce the sentence of a former band director accused of a sexual relationship with a student.
Timothy Brightbill was sentenced to nine years in prison Aug. 30 and later filed a motion contesting that sentence. His argument was that it was inconsistent with other sentences for similar crimes in other counties.
Springstead said his sentence “reflected great leniency” and turned down the request.
Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or [email protected]
