Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins says Michael J Rogers, age 49, and Alden J Gainey, Age 20, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of Giving False Information to Police for their involvement in attempting to cover up Micah Roger’s vandalism of Howard’s Rock in June of 2013.
Micah Rogers, Michael’s son, was convicted at trial last summer of malicious injury to property for vandalizing the Rock, according to the solicitor.
Prosecutors say that on June 20, 2013, Michael J Rogers had a meeting at his home in NC with his son Micah, Alden Gainey, and Xavia Wynn to discuss video surveillance of Micah’s truck and the three boys in the vicinity of the Rock the night the vandalism occurred.
According to Xavia Wynn, Michael urged the boys to “stick to the story” that they did not damage the rock, and that they were just there to take pictures, according to the solicitor.
On June 24, 2013, the same four individuals traveled to Pickens, SC to meet with law enforcement, according to the solicitor.
Alden Gainey, who was present the night Micah Rogers damaged the Rock, gave the fabricated version of events to police, but Xavia Wynn came clean, informing officers that Micah had indeed damaged the Rock, according to the solicitor.
They say subsequent investigation revealed Michael Rogers’ role in fabricating the story.