After five years of having their campaign signs and event announcements vandalized, politicians and service organizations decided to take matters into their own hands. City Councilman Ross Jones and others staged a surveillance operation to catch the culprit and were successful.

Michael Debenedet, 49, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of tearing down and destroying political signs. He was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor vandalism. According to the sheriff's department, the investigations are continuing as there may be enough offenses to amount to felony charges.

It is against the law in California to deface., damage, or destroy the personal property of another person. Vandalism crimes are usually charged as a misdemeanor, but some can be punishable as a felony. A vandalism conviction will most likely include an order to participate in programs cleaning up graffiti and fines. Fines range from $1,000 to $50,000 and imprisonment can range from a short time in county jail to state prison terms.

If you or someone you know is being accused of vandalism, you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. The criminal defense attorneys at the Hedding Law firm have a combined 75 years of experience and have been successful in many vandalism cases. Contact our office today to set up a free face-to-face consultation.

Man Arrested on Suspicion of Vandalism