N.Y. teens charged in mosque disruption

CARLTON, N.Y., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Five teens harassed members of a mosque and one suspect fired a shotgun during a prayer service in a separate incident, prosecutors in New York state allege.

The suspects are accused of shouting obscenities and insults and sideswiping a worshiper with a vehicle Monday at the World Sufi Foundation in Carlton, N.Y., about 40 miles northeast of Buffalo, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Members of the mosque detained the five and held them until police arrived. The teens -- identified as Mark Vendetti and Tim Weader, both 17, and Dylan Phillips, Jeff Donahue and Anthony Ogden, all 18 -- are scheduled to make a court appearance in Carlton Friday, police said.

Vendetti faces an additional charge of criminal possession of a weapon. He is accused of firing the shotgun outside the mosque Aug. 20.

No one was injured in the shooting but Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone said Vendetti could be sentenced to as much as four years in prison if convicted.

"It seems every three or four years we have some kids drive by the mosque and make comments and that sort of thing," Cardone said.

"We've had minor incidents, but nothing of this magnitude in the past."

Mosque member David Bell required treatment at a hospital for cuts after he was sideswiped Monday by the car in which the suspects were riding, police said.