Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Woman Charged with Tagging Government Buildings with Anti-Trump Graffiti

On a day when Donald Trump doubts the level of Clinton support in California

On a day when Donald Trump doubts the level of Clinton support in California, a 37-year-old woman was charged with tagging messages against Donald Trump at government buildings in downtown Los Angeles' Civic Center. This caused thousands of dollars in damages, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office alleged.

Victoria Jayne Bay, 37, of Los Angeles faces four felony counts of vandalism over $400 damage, graffiti. Arraignment is scheduled today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 20, Bay spray-painted anti-Trump messages at the Hall of Justice, Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Hall of Records and L.A. Central Plant.

The defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of five years in jail if convicted as charged. The requested bail is $40,000.

Meanwhile, The West Hollywood man who admitted to vandalizing President-elect Donald Trump's Hollywood star has been charged with felony vandalism, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.

James Lambert Otis, 52, made headlines on Oct. 26 after video of him taking a pick-axe to the star went viral.

A felony complaint filed by the D.A.'s office alleges Otis "did unlawfully and maliciously damage and destroy" property belonging to the city of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in an amount exceeding $400. If convicted as charged, he faces up to three years in jail.

The day after the star was defaced, Otis was taken into custody by Los Angeles police on suspicion of felony vandalism. A short time later, he was released after posting $20,000 bail.

Otis, who flips houses for a living, announced the next week that he planned to sue Trump and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to have the star removed.

Otis cited the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the star, which became the focal point of scuffles and near-daily protests up until the Nov. 8 election.

"It's costing the city money," he said about the efforts to remove profanity, swastikas and stickers that people continued to put on the newly-repaired star.

 

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