MANHATTAN GRAFFITI ARTIST IS SENTENCED FOR PAINTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHOUT OWNER'S PERMISSION

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that graffiti artist James De La Vega has been sentenced for painting on the wall of a building housing a medical supply business without the owner's permission.

De La Vega, 32, of 119 East 102nd Street, Manhattan, was found guilty last July of one count of Attempted Criminal Mischief, one count of Attempted Making Graffiti, and one count of Possession of Graffiti Instruments.

After De La Vega apologized to the owner of the building, Criminal Court Judge Seth Marvin sentenced De La Vega to fifty hours of community service at the Point Community Center, at 940 Garretson Avenue. Failure to comply with the stipulations of this sentence will result in a thirty day in jail term.

The graffiti was painted shortly after midnight on July 17, 2003. A police officer observed De La Vega with a paint brush in his hand applying white paint to the medical supply company's wall located at 80 Bruckner Boulevard. When confronted, De La Vega told the officer that he was an artist and that he painted graffiti all over the city.

During his trial the defendant admitted that he did not have permission to paint on the wall. He also told the court that it was not his intention to damage the property which belonged to Borda Products, a medical supply company.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Karen Antoine.