Callaway County authorities say five people are charged with vandalism at an historically Black church.
Sheriff Clay Chism says burglary and property damage charges were filed Monday against five suspects in vandalism that occurred Jan. 23 at Oakley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Tebbetts.
The suspects range in age from 16 to 18. Four are from Jefferson City and one is from Tebbetts.
The church, which was founded in 1878, was rarely used.
Chism says evidence does not indicate the vandalism was a hate crime but the investigation is continuing, and he noted two abandoned homes in the area were vandalized the same time as the church.
