3 charged in vandalism of champion bur oak

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Three people have been charged with vandalizing a state champion bur oak on private property south of Columbia.

The Columbia Missourian reported incriminating Facebook photos led to misdemeanor second-degree property damage charges against two men and a woman from Boonville. Spray paint was found on the tree in December.

Twenty-two-year-old Joseph C. Cary turned himself in and posted $1,000 bond. Meanwhile, arrest warrants have been issued for 19-year-old Taylor S. Gee and 20-year-old Ethan F. Hessing. No attorneys are listed for the three in online court records.

Boone County Sheriff's Department Maj. Tom Reddin declined to be specific about the information in the Facebook posts. But he said the posts "most certainly provided us with direction and suspects to identify."

Information from: Columbia Missourian, http://www.columbiamissourian.com