Taggers Plead Guilty To Graffiti

Douglas Grantham Jones and Christopher Erik Smith — long the source of aggravation for the intown neighborhoods of Old Fourth Ward, Virginia-Highland, Inman Park and Poncey-Highland — pleaded guilty to graffiti and destruction of property Wednesday.

The two, known as "Beav" and "Vomet," respectively, appeared before Chief Judge Crystal A. Gaines in Atlanta Municipal Court Wednesday afternoon.

Gaines ordered the pair pay thousands in restitution to their victims, additional fines and court costs and that they serve probation in a sentencing hearing that lasted about 30 minutes.

Specifically, Gaines ordered that:

• Jones, 19:
  • serve six months' probation
  • pay $4,750 in restitution to three victims, including $1,450 to Georgia Power Co.
  • pay $300 in fines, plus court costs.
  • understand that successful completion of the probation is contingent upon the other parts of the sentence being followed

• Smith, 29:
  • serve six months' probation
  • pay $3,550 in restitution to two victims, including $2,500 to the city of Atlanta
  • 50 hours of community service
  • $500 in fines, plus court costs
  • understand that successful completion of the probation is contingent upon the other parts of the sentence being followed

The guilty pleas were entered under a negotiated deal between their attorney, Daniel Kane, and Erika D. Smith, the senior assistant solicitor representing the city.

They faced several counts for violations of the city's graffiti code and destruction of property and fines of $1,000 per infraction.

The deals bring to a close this longstanding case, which stretched back nearly a year following delays and requests by their attorney for more access to police files.

Despite the delays, residents from the affected neighborhoods attended each hearing, with their numbers reaching 20 strong sometimes, to ensure the communities' voices were heard.

Wednesday afternoon, seven residents got up to speak as a group to the judge before she imposed her sentences.

Dressed in Ralph Lauren pinstriped oxford shirts — with Jones in khaki pants and tan topsiders and Smith in dark blue jeans and dark blue tennis shoes — the two listened as Old Fourth Ward resident Linda Downing spoke on behalf of the group.

"I go out and buy paint at Home Depot and take my children out — we paint over graffiti all the time," she said, noting it's a routine repeated by several neighbors. "I would ask these young men to try to have a positive impact on our neighborhood."

As part of that, she asked, and Gaines agreed, that Smith should use his community service time by painting over graffiti in Old Fourth Ward.

"I'm sure Mr. Smith will learn from this event and never come back in front of me again," Gaines said.