Clayton News Daily

By Ed Brock

ebrock@news-daily.com

Patrick Saxby's involvement in the vandalism of Jonesboro High School will not cost him his appointment to the Army's elite officer's academy.

Saxby and six other JHS graduates were charged with felony interference with government property in connection with the May 23 vandalism of the school. The charges were later dropped and the seven suspects were required to attend a pre-trial intervention program instead.

When officials at the Military Academy at West Point first learned about the situation they sent Saxby, an appointee to the school, that his appointment was on hold pending further investigation, said Saxby's attorney Steve Frey.

"They have since sent him another letter telling him to ignore the first letter," Frey said.

Instead, Saxby was ordered to report to the school later this month.

Throughout the investigation into the vandalism case and Saxby's involvement U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Georgia, continued to support his recommendation for Saxby's appointment to the school. Scott also wrote a letter to the school's director of admissions, Col. Michael Jones, expressing that support, saying he uses a "whole person" approach to assessing applicants he recommends.

"Patrick has displayed extraordinary discipline and devotion to accomplishing his life goals as an honor role student and athlete," Scott wrote in the letter. "Although his actions regarding the high school prank are regretful, we must not allow this isolated teenage indiscretion to tarnish this otherwise sterling individual."