• Font Size    

Slideshows

WeHo Halloween Carnaval
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Most Prolific Graffiti Tagger Sentenced To 4 Years

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Aug 15, 2008 12:01 pm US/Pacific

Most Prolific Graffiti Tagger Sentenced To 4 Years

TORRANCE (CBS) ― A man described by Gardena police as "the most prolific graffiti tagger" in that city's history pleaded no contest today to a vandalism charge and was immediately sentenced to four years in state prison.

Along with his no contest plea, Ivan Gonzales admitted violating probation stemming from his October 2007 conviction for receiving stolen property, according to Deputy District Attorney Laurie Blaustein.

Torrance Superior Court Judge Thomas Sokolov ordered Gonzales, 32, of
Gardena, to pay $500 in restitution to the city of Gardena, the prosecutor
said.

A second vandalism charge was dismissed as a result of his plea.

Gonzales was charged with the two counts following his July 30 arrest by
Gardena police, who said the defendant was responsible for more than $100,000 worth of property damage.

Investigators believe Gonzales tagged more than 200 residential trash
cans; more than 200 city light poles; businesses on Crenshaw Boulevard between Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue; and city sidewalks and an alley along Crenshaw, Gardena police Lt. Uikilifi Niko said earlier.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.