Two Teens Arrested for Extensive Vandalism and Burglary at Haralson County Church
Two teenagers have been arrested, and one charged with gang-related activity, following extensive vandalism and burglary at Piney Woods Baptist Church on Rockmart Road. The church, which has been a target of multiple vandalism incidents since February 2024, suffered significant damage to its Fellowship Hall.
On Tuesday, July 08, 2025, Deputy Seth Entrekin was dispatched to the church. He found chairs, power tools, mops, toilet plungers, and other items lodged into the walls and ceiling of the Fellowship Hall. All windows had been busted out, and spray paint, indicative of gang-related activities, covered both the interior and exterior of the church.
Sgt. Jason Bowman from the Criminal Investigative Division responded and began his investigation. A crucial piece of evidence, a social media video, was provided to detectives. The video reportedly showed two young males, identified as 17-year-old Darren Stanley and a 16-year-old unnamed juvenile, committing the acts inside the Fellowship Hall.
Darren C. Stanley, a 17-year-old white male from Temple, GA, was arrested and charged with:
- Burglary 2nd Degree
- Vandalism to a Place of Worship
- Criminal Damage to Property 2nd Degree
- Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
- Participation in Gang Related Activity
The 16-year-old unnamed juvenile was charged in a Juvenile Complaint Form with the same offenses and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Sheriff Stacy Williams expressed disappointment but also hope for the individuals involved. “It is disappointing to see these young individuals make such a serious mistake, but there is always hope that they will learn from this and become productive citizens,” stated Sheriff Williams. “This church closed for a while, but they are working to reopen and unfortunately, have been the target of several vandalisms over the last few months. The damage done by this last one was heartbreaking to see in a church building. We hope that any youth across Haralson County will learn from this that you cannot break into buildings, and you cannot damage property that is not yours.”
This remains an active and ongoing investigation, with the possibility of additional charges and other individuals being involved. Anyone with information is urged to contact Sgt. Jason Bowman at 770-646-2011 or submit an anonymous tip through the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office website at https://www.haralsoncountysheriff.org/crime-tip.cfm.
