Cost of Beheading Jesus and Joseph: $7,685

Plus two years of probation.

That’s the case for a 21-year-old from Illinois who used a lead pipe to knock the heads off of Jesus and Joseph statues in front of a church.

A Virgin Mary statue suffered collateral damage.

A McHenry County man pleaded guilty Thursday to allegations he decapitated statues of Jesus and Joseph outside a Harvard church, avoiding a possible prison sentence for the vandalism spree earlier this year.

Skyler G. Hall, 21, of Harvard (a city in Illinois), instead must serve two years probation, pay a $500 fine and reimburse St. Joseph Catholic Church $7,185 after admitting guilt to a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property.

…

Police said there is no indication of any prior conflict between the church, or any church, and Hall.

“It was a deliberate, random act of vandalism,” Harvard police Lt. Andrew Oparyk said. “The reason? He just did it.”

Well, that was a dickish thing to do.

Thankfully, there’s no indication he’s an atheist…

I do have to give props to a Daily Herald commenter, TGSantini, for coming up with the best line for the story:

That’s what I call separation of church and pate.

Well played, sir.

(via Chicagoist)