By Gwyneth Gibby
Gazette-Times reporter | Posted: Saturday, June 9, 2007 12:00 am
A Corvallis man pleaded guilty on Friday to four counts of criminal mischief for applying graffiti to businesses and a public utility box in December 2006 and January 2007.
As part of a plea agreement, Colin Wonnacott, 24, pleaded guilty to one felony and three misdemeanors out of the 31 counts he was originally charged with. Visiting Judge Richard Barber sentenced Wonnacott to 30 days in jail and 18 months of supervised probation, as well as 80 hours of community service. Wonnacott will also pay restitution totaling $493.95 to the victims.
"This is a beautiful city," said Deputy District Attorney Brian Raymer, addressing the court. "The defendant fancies himself a graffiti artist. The defendant needs to understand that he may be impressed with his ability to apply spray paint, but no one else is."
Wonnacott described for the court the places he had applied graffiti - a utility box, a wall behind a Union 76 station, a shed behind Corvallis Floor Covering and a mailbox behind Bank of America. He had also been charged with applying graffiti to such businesses as the OSU Federal Credit Union,
5 Star Sports, Mehlhaf's Clothiers and Benson's Interiors, among others. According to Deputy District Attorney John Mason, only Bank of America, Peak Sports and Benson Interiors applied for restitution.
"I'd like to apologize to the court and community at large for what I've done," Wonnacott said, "and I'd like to simply state it will never happen again."
Wonnacott was charged with the felony count for applying graffiti to public utilities. The other charges were for second-degree criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor. After the sentencing, the remaining 27 counts were dismissed. If Wonnacott successfully completes all conditions of his probation, the felony conviction will be downgraded to a misdemeanor.
Raymer pointed out to the court that Wonnacott had previous convictions, in 2003, for criminal trespass and criminal mischief, also for applying graffiti. In that case the misdemeanors were downgraded to violations. This time it was different.
"The defendant will leave this courtroom a convicted felon," Raymer said. "This kind of thing is not going to be tolerated any more."