VANDALS HIT CORN EQUIPMENT

OGDENSBURG — A family is still cleaning up nearly $10,000 in damage after vandals — thought to be vengeful marijuana growers — smashed windows, slashed tires and cut wires on farming equipment Tuesday morning.

"It makes you really angry," said Kathleen M. Pierce, who, with her husband, Keith, owns the McGowan Road farm in the town of Oswegatchie. "It's our property that we're paying taxes on."

Sheriff's deputies investigating the case said they believe the vandalism may have been the retaliation of marijuana growers.

St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin M. Wells said the growers sometimes usurp land meant for legal crops to grow marijuana. The growers come back before the harvest to pluck their illicit products.

This time, the Pierces' corn chopping came early, and police believe that marijuana being grown on their 1,300 acres without their knowledge was destroyed in the process.

"It's not our fault they didn't get in there to harvest their crop," Mrs. Pierce said.

"We've never seen this type of reaction to such a situation," Mr. Wells said. "We're checking into all possibilities."

Mrs. Pierce said the vandals specifically targeted equipment used for chopping corn, which added to the marijuana theory.

"This is the first time it's happened to us," she said. "I really don't understand it all myself."

Mrs. Pierce said corn gathering has been halted for the past two days while equipment is refurbished. Damage amounted to $7,400 on the 16 slashed tires alone, she said. Corn gathering could recommence today.

The Pierces use the corn to feed their cows. They're offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals.

"The property owners would appreciate it greatly," Mr. Wells said. "Farmers struggle. If we could help with this situation, that would be great."

No arrests have been made in the case, and the investigation is continuing.

Sheriff's detectives can be reached at 379-2222.