Jesus figures recovered - burning Party Thwarted

This is just sick. These teens need some serious mental help. Some serious discipline. Maybe even stable homes. I say throw the book at them, but then I tend to be heavyhanded. Mostly, they need Jesus and his forgiveness.

SAYREVILLE — Four teenagers charged yesterday in the destruction of a 15-foot crucifix at a borough cemetery and the theft of more than 25 infant Jesus figures from manger scenes "wanted to see the baby Jesuses burn," police said.
Police were still digging for information yesterday, but two of the suspects told them they did it out of boredom."They were looking for things to do. They told us, "We were going to have a baby-Jesus-burning party,' " said Detective Ken Kelly of the Sayreville Police Department. "The reason they picked (the Jesus figures) was because they looked real.
"He recalled another statement by one of the suspects: "We just wanted to see their heads burning."
All live in the same section of Old Bridge, an enclave of ranch and split-level homes between Route 9 and Cheesequake State Park.
Taken into custody at their homes yesterday were Christopher Olson, 18, of Athens Avenue; Michael Payne, 19, of Maple Avenue; Nicholas Hess, 18, of Spring Hill Road and a 15-year-old boy.
They were charged with theft, criminal mischief, destruction of venerated objects and conspiracy. The worst of the charges is a third-degree offense that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, Kelly said.
The juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, was turned over to his parents. Bail for the three young men was set at $25,000 each.
A motive of bias, considered earlier by police, has been ruled out by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office because it did not meet the criteria under the criminal statute, Kelly said.
A break in the case led detectives to an unregistered Mercury Sable parked in the driveway of Olson's home loaded with the stolen Jesus figures, Kelly said.

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