SAES graffiti tagger ordered to pay more than $18,000 in restitution
The graffiti tagger known as SAES was ordered Thursday to pay more than $18,000 in restitution in of multiple cases against him.
The 15-year-old Ann Arbor boy's moniker.
In Washtenaw Juvenile Court, Referee Gail Altenburg ordered the 15-year-old Ann Arbor boy, who admitted to painting his SAES moniker in multiple locations in the Ann Arbor area, to pay $18,248.91 in restitution. Restitution for the other cases will remain open and be determined within the next 30 days.
The boy was also sentenced to six months of probation and 80 hours of community service to be completed by Nov. 1. Up to 20 additional hours of community service may be added.
Altenburg is requiring that the boy continue therapy and write a letter of apology to each of the victims after reading the victim statements on file. Letters will be reviewed by a probation officer. SAES will also attend a victim awareness class.
The boy will continue to participate in W-A-Y Washtenaw, a mostly online alternative school.
Prior to sentencing, Altenburg asked the boy if he wanted to say anything. He said that he just wants to move forward with everything.
In June, the 15-year-old admitted to vandalizing 28 different locations in Washtenaw County from November to May and accepted a plea deal, which will erase all but three counts against him if he successfully completes probation and pays restitution.
He pleaded responsible to six charges of malicious destruction of property, six charges of malicious destruction of a building, four charges of malicious destruction of a building, four charges of malicious destruction of personal property, four charges of malicious destruction of a building causing less than $200 in damages and four charges of malicious destruction of property worth between $1,000 and $20,000.
Each charge represents a location in Washtenaw County that was vandalized. Public property as well as multiple restaurants and businesses were targeted by the graffiti tagger.
In a related vandalism case involving the graffiti tagger MOLE, the 16-year-old Pioneer High School student pleaded responsible to 11 charges in June. He will pay more than $13,500 in restitution.
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.
Comments
KMHall
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 7:38 p.m.
I agree that he should get on with his life and I wish him the best. Paying back will be a good lesson. I hope, however, that therapy is more than just penance. He did a lot of damage. Kids will always goof around and test boundaries. They will cause harm and trouble. The extent of his actions indicate some serious issues.
Soothslayer
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 7:45 p.m.
There's "goofing around" and "lol, boys will be boys!" and then there's crime which is what vandalism is. ?So the two shouldn't be confused.
Jaime Magiera
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 7:26 p.m.
OK, now that that is settled, let him do his penance and get on with life. I wish him the best in using his creative energies towards stuff that will benefit the community directly.
Soothslayer
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 7:43 p.m.
Yeah... no. Tagging isn't creative, it's vandalism.
leezee
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 7:07 p.m.
I have no problem with the parents paying because I know the backlash from that will just add to the kids punishment.....or one would hope. Who knows nowadays.
A2comments
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
MOLE, SAES, hard to remember which one is which. Hopefully the parents aren't allowed to pay the fine, make these juveniles work to earn the money.
Soothslayer
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 7:41 p.m.
Who cares how they get the funds for the restitution as long as it's legal? What kind of crummy parent doesn't know what their kids are up to? Bad parenting is just as much to blame.