Charges Upgraded Against USS Ling Vandalism Suspects: Report

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Charges against the five people accused of burglarizing the USS Ling have been increased.

Jon Stevens, Stacey Bouley, Laura Palmese, Edward Johnson, and Robb Hemberger have been charged via an indictment with conspiracy and knowingly causing a flood, NorthJersey.com reported.

Authorities allege in the indictment that the five conspired "to commit the crime of causing or risking widespread injury or damage" and "did purposely or knowingly unlawfully cause a flood," according to the report.

Four of the individuals were initially charged with trespassing in July 2018 after they were seen on the World War II-era submarine, which is now a museum, and later identified via video footage, Hackensack police previously said.

Four World War II commemorative plaques were reported stolen from the submarine in June 2018, police previously said.

Stevens and Palmese drove to Hackensack, parked in the New Heritage Diner parking lot, and swam through the river to the Ling; they stole a lantern and a Medical Corps Lieutenant shoulder lapel from the submarine, police previously said.

The USS Ling was launched in August 1943 and commissioned in June 1945. It was decommissioned in October 1946. It was brought to Hackensack as the centerpiece of the New Jersey Naval Museum in 1972.

Related:

• Vandals Steal WWII Plaques, Flood USS Ling In Hackensack
• WWII Plaques Returned To USS Ling Museum, 4 Charged

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com