Tagger Pleads Guilty to Felony Vandalism

A 20-year-old North Hollywood man pleaded guilty Monday to the unusual charge of felony vandalism for tagging, Los Angeles County prosecutors said.

Jaime Anthony Rodriguez admitted spraying or marking “James 129” on 200 walls, street signs, curbs, street lights and billboards throughout the North Hollywood area between May 3 and Nov. 29 of last year, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Mitchel Harris.

Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 3, Harris said, and could face up to one year in jail, restitution and three years of probation.

What made the case unusual was the prosecution’s tactics.

A felony charge requires at least $5,000 damage. Instead of the more common misdemeanor charge--which carries a maximum punishment of six months in jail--the district attorney’s office reached the $5,000 minimum mark by adding together the costs for removing the hundreds of tags, Harris said.

“Everybody is really offended by these guys, and in the past they’ve gotten minimal sentences and misdemeanor charges,” Harris said. “Now we’ve got this one on a felony.”