Jason P. Paras, Grave Marker Theft, Oklahoma 2012

Moore Man Sentenced to Prison for Stealing and Selling Veteran Grave Markers

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - In a shocking case of desecration, Jason P. Paras, 33, of Moore, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve four months in prison for the theft of two grave markers from a Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Intertribal Cemetery.

The crime took place in June 2012, when Paras stole several brass grave markers from the Deyo Mission Cemetery, a Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Intertribal Cemetery located on Indian trust land west of Lawton, Oklahoma. The stolen markers were furnished by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at no cost to the family for deceased military service members.

Paras admitted to stealing the brass markers to sell to a recycling company in Lawton, Oklahoma, as scrap metal. One of the grave markers was that of a Comanche Tribal member and 'Comanche Code Talker' from World War II who was admitted to the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in September of 2011. The Comanche Code Talkers were part of a classified special unit of tribal members that used coded messages in the Comanche language to evade detection by German forces during World War II in Europe.

Another marker belonged to a Comanche tribal member who was a Vietnam veteran. As part of the sentence, Paras will be required to pay to replace the two markers he stole and sold as scrap metal.

The case was investigated by the Comanche Nation Police Department and the Comanche County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arvo Q. Mikkanen.

Paras was charged on the federal court's Indian country misdemeanor docket on September 20, 2012, and pled guilty on October 18, 2012. He will serve his prison sentence in the Western District of Oklahoma.

This case highlights the importance of protecting the dignity of our nation's heroes and their families. We must ensure that those who seek to desecrate the graves of our veterans are held accountable for their actions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/moore-man-who-stole-veteran-grave-markers-tribal-cemetary-sell-salvage-will-serve