Two plead guilty to cover up in Howard’s Rock vandalism

Two men pleaded guilty to attempting to cover up vandalism of Howard’s Rock in June 2013, the Solicitor’s Office said.

Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said Michael J. Rogers, 49, and Alden J. Gainey, 20, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of giving false Information to police for their involvement in attempting to cover up Micah Rogers’ vandalism of Howard’s Rock. Micah Rogers, Michael’s son, was convicted at trial last summer of malicious injury to property for vandalizing the Rock.

Evidence presented at the plea hearing by Assistant Solicitor Baker Cleveland established that on June 20, 2013, Michael J. Rogers had a meeting at his home in North Carolina with his son Micah, Gainey, and Wynn to discuss video surveillance of Micah’s truck and the three boys in the vicinity of Howard’s Rock the night the vandalism occurred.

According to Xavia Wynn, Michael Rogers urged the boys to “stick to the story” that they did not damage the rock, and that they were just there to take pictures. On June 24, 2013, the same four individuals traveled to Pickens to meet with law enforcement. 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, the Solicitor’s Office said. Subsequent investigation revealed Michael Rogers’ role in fabricating the story.