NORTH HOLLYWOOD : Bus Graffiti Vandal Admits His Guilt

An 18-year-old North Hollywood graffiti vandal, placed under citizen’s arrest by a 77-year-old man last month for defacing a city bus, pleaded no contest Monday to one charge of vandalism.

Juan Carlos Adams was sentenced in Van Nuys Municipal Court to three days in jail and 30 days of working on a graffiti removal crew. He was placed on two years probation, during which he is banned from riding city buses, except to and from school, and from possessing markers or spray paint.

A hearing will be held in May to determine what restitution Adams will be required to pay.

The 77-year-old man was a passenger on the bus traveling along Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys when he saw Adams and a 15-year-old friend defacing the bus interior, according to a Los Angeles Police Department report.

When the passenger complained to the bus driver, Adams reportedly told the passenger, “Mind your own business, old man. This is not your problem,” police said.

The bus driver pulled over and hailed two officers in a passing patrol car, the police report said. The passenger got off the bus and told the policemen, “Officers, arrest these two kids. I’m sick of this. They are destroying the bus.”

Adams was taken into custody on a citizen’s arrest. The juvenile was released to his parents.