Friday
Jun112004
Graffiti Artist Convicted- Faces up to 90 days in Jail
Friday, June 11, 2004 at 02:39PM
The lawyer for James De La Vega, a well-known muralist from East Harlem
who was convicted on misdemeanor graffiti charges this week, said
yesterday that his client deserved community service, not jail time,
and that he planned to appeal.
"This verdict was entirely unjustified," said the lawyer, Daniel J. Ollen. "We definitely think this case deserves a second look." Mr. De La Vega, 32, who was arrested on July 17, 2003, while painting without permission on the side of a Bronx warehouse near Willis Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard, was found guilty on Thursday of attempted criminal mischief, attempted making graffiti and possessing graffiti instruments. He is to be sentenced in Bronx Criminal Court on July 29 and faces up to 90 days in jail. [more]
"This verdict was entirely unjustified," said the lawyer, Daniel J. Ollen. "We definitely think this case deserves a second look." Mr. De La Vega, 32, who was arrested on July 17, 2003, while painting without permission on the side of a Bronx warehouse near Willis Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard, was found guilty on Thursday of attempted criminal mischief, attempted making graffiti and possessing graffiti instruments. He is to be sentenced in Bronx Criminal Court on July 29 and faces up to 90 days in jail. [more]