Franklin County pair arrested, accused of stealing bronze memorial plaques from cemeteries

HAMPTON — A Franklin County pair have been arrested after allegedly stealing about 40 bronze memorial plaques from cemeteries throughout the area.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve arrested 33-year-old Brandon Smith of Hampton and 33-year-old Lauren Johnson of Dumont. Both are charged with first-degree theft while Smith has also been charged with first-degree criminal mischief. In a criminal complaint filed by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, they say Smith stole bronze memorial plaques from boulders, historical sites, and veterans gravestones in at least six cemeteries in the county, with similar plaques also being reported stolen in neighboring counties.

The complaint accuses Smith of etching off all the markings of the plaques, and then cut them into pieces so they could be taken to a Sheffield-based salvage business.

Both Smith and Johnson have their preliminary hearing scheduled for February 6th in Franklin County court. All charges are Class C felonies, each punishable by up to ten years in prison.