Graffiti Vandal Chaka Charged in Theft of Shoes

Daniel Ramos, who as “Chaka” became one of the nation’s most infamous graffiti vandals, may have signed away his freedom when he allegedly stole three pairs of Nikes from a department store.

Ramos was charged Wednesday with burglary and petty theft after he allegedly stole the shoes worth $200 from the Mervyn’s department store in the Fallbrook Mall in West Hills on Friday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Dave Ross said.

The 26-year-old Boyle Heights resident was already on probation following his conviction on 48 counts of vandalism for scrawling Chaka on everything from freeway bridges to lampposts.

Ramos was initially arrested in 1990 after a three-year graffiti rampage in which he scribbled his moniker on 10,000 surfaces across the state, including Disneyland walls and the Golden Gate Bridge. He was finally caught by police while writing Chaka on a Lincoln Heights traffic light.

Ramos was placed on probation, ordered to undergo psychological counseling and required to spend 1,560 hours cleaning graffiti.

But only 24 hours after being released from jail in 1991, he was arrested for writing his name on a courthouse door.

Four days later he was arrested again for trespassing on a city golf course and possession of marijuana.

In 1996 Ramos was arrested again for spray-painting his moniker in Boyle Heights.

“He’s been given many opportunities, innumerable opportunities,” said Head Deputy Dist. Atty. John Spillane.

Ramos’ public defense attorney, John Ponist, said it was too soon to know how Ramos would plead.

Spillane said Ramos, if convicted, may face stiffer penalties than are usual in robbery cases.

“We’re talking at least three years and probably much more than that,” Spillane said.

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Times staff writer Evelyn Larrubia contributed to this story.