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LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- Four people were charged Thursday with harassment, accused of leaving threatening notes on homes lit up with Christmas lights.
The computer-generated notes read: "This is a public service announcement. You're going to burn in Hell ... It is too early in this holiday season to have your damn Christmas lights on."
The notes, distributed last weekend, said that homes with Christmas decorations displayed before Dec. 14 would be burned down, police said.
The notes were found on 14 homes throughout the city, a police department news release said. No one reported damage to their Christmas lights or displays.
On Tuesday, two 18-year-old men and two 18-year-old women surrendered to police.
"They stated the notes were only meant to be a joke," Logan police Lt. Rod Peterson said. "At no time did they intend to burn down anyone's home."
City Prosecutor Lee Edwards filed 14 counts of harassment against each of the four in Logan Municipal Court on Thursday. Harassment is a class B misdemeanor which carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines.
"I took it as a threat," said Evette Hunt, who found a noted tacked to her front door. Hunt's covered porch is draped in icicle lights and there is a tinsel-covered tree in her front yard.
Lori Lundberg's home is also trimmed in lights and her yard decorated with illuminated snowmen, a caroler, gifts adorned with lights and an inflated Christmas tree.
She thought the note was a prank, but still called police.
"You just don't know, especially if you have kids," Lundberg said.
Neither Hunt nor Lundberg let the notes nix their holiday cheer. Both say they kept their lights glowing despite the possible threat.
"These guys are not going to ruin my holiday," said Hunt.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
