Updyke indicted for AU poisoning

OPELIKA, Ala. — The Alabama fan accused of poisoning the oak trees at Auburn’s Toomer’s Corner has been indicted by a Lee County grand jury.

Court documents posted online show the grand jury indicted Harvey Updyke Jr. on four felony charges and two misdemeanor charges.

Updyke, 62, faces two felony counts of first-degree criminal mischief, two felony counts of unlawful damage, felony vandalism or theft of property from a farm animal or crop facility and two misdemeanor counts of desecrating a venerated object.

He is scheduled for arraignment on May 26 before Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jacob A. Walker III. He has a tentative trial date of June 20.

The trees are at Toomer’s Corner, where Auburn fans have traditionally celebrated wins.