Teens Sentenced to Reflection For Defacing Historic Black Schoolhouse in Ashburn

ASHBURN, VA — Five teenagers who spray-painted a historic African-American schoolhouse with racist graffiti and other offensive symbols last October were sentenced Wednesday to a year of reading, writing and attending national museums that honor minorities and bemoan religious discrimination, according to Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Plowman.

Three of the teens, all 16 or 17, were minorities, and Plowman argued that reading such books as "To Kill a Mockingbird," would best serve them instead of some other punishment.

In other words, a teachable moment.

The all pleaded guilty to one count of destruction of property and one count of unlawful entry.

The vandalism was discovered Oct. 1, at the Old Ashburn Schoolhouse on Ashburn Road. The graffiti included offensive and vulgar graffiti, to include racist messages. The vandalism occurred the previous night.

At the time, it was under restoration. The one-room schoolhouse operated as a public school for African Americans from 1892 until the 1950's.

Donations to the restoration surged on a GoFund Me page after the vandalism incident, and Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation donated $35,000 to benefit the restoration of the school.

Photo shared by Ashburn Old School Rehabilitation on Facebook