Students: Giraffe head theft a prank

The current and former Calvin College students -- Michael James Ludema, 23, Andrew Ryan Webster, 21, Christopher Paul Vanderzee, 21, Jonathan Randal Gelderloos, 21, and David James Kaemingk, 22 -- told police they sawed the head and neck from giraffe, located behind a billboard on I-196, in April 2009 as a prank and intended to mount the head and neck in their dorm, The Grand Rapids Press reported Thursday.

The suspects face a five-year felony charge of larceny over $1,000. Attorneys not involved in the case said the five men are more likely to face fines and probation than jail time.

Steve Disselkoen, vice president of Grand Rapids Outdoor Advertising, said the company is glad to have the giraffe head back and hopes the suspects learned a lesson without too harsh of a punishment.

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