Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A 19-year-old man suspected of defacing the gravesite of former President Gerald Ford and first lady Betty Ford has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges.
The Grand Rapids Press reports Christian Johnson entered the plea Monday to charges of larceny and malicious destruction of property of tombs or memorials.
Police have said Johnson and a female co-defendant turned themselves in after the March 27 incident and returned a missing letter. Johnson has apologized, saying he didn't know what the gravesite was.
The co-defendant bonded out of jail Monday and has not yet been arraigned. She faces a misdemeanor count of receiving and concealing stolen property valued at less than $200.
The Fords are buried outside a Grand Rapids museum dedicated to Gerald Ford's presidency.
___
Information from: The Grand Rapids Press, http://www.mlive.com/grand-rapids
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
