By Leslie N. Dees
Two teenagers from North Mississippi have been charged with grand larceny and malicious mischief after taking a John Deere gator for a joy ride and then vandalizing it.
Attala County Sheriff William Lee said he and investigator Randy Blakely were alerted by Roy Sims that his Gator was missing from him farm on Dec. 23.
Off they went to investigate and in the meantime, Chief Deputy Tim Nail had apprehended William R. Gibson of Senatobia and Alejandro “Chico” Ortega of Sarah, for being disruptive at a residence near the Sims’ farm.
After a little bit of detective work and information from Nail, Lee said the pair finally fessed up to stealing the Gator.
He said they rode across a large pasture, ran through fences, broke the window of the Gator and ran it into a wooded area.
To top off their adventure they threw paint on the seat and in the gas tank of the Gator.
Ortega is out on a $40,000 bond and Gibson is currently residing in the Attala County Jail.
