16-Year-Old Charged For Graffiti Incidents In Anthony
DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. — A 16-year-old male from Anthony, N.M. was arrested Wednesday after being connected with several reports of graffiti in the Anthony area.
On Wednesday, Dona Ana County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of damage on grave markers at a Berino cemetery. The type of paint and graffiti were similar to two earlier graffiti incidents.
On June 18, sheriff’s deputies responded to a graffiti call on the Desert Sands MDWCA facility. The walls of the building had been written over with graffiti of a local and gang and a particular gang member, sheriff’s officials said.
About two weeks later, on July 2, sheriff’s deputies reponded to a report of graffiti on the walls of an Anthony building. The building showed the same gang graffiti as the June 18 incident. Damages were estimated at over $1,000, officials said.
Residents in the Anthony area identified a 16-year-old who may have been responsible for the graffiti. After submitting to questioning by investigators, the youth admitted he was respnsible for the graffiti on the walls and cemetery, sheriff’s officials said.
The youth was charged with one fourth-degree felony count of criminal damage to property over $1,000 and two misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property under $1,000, officials said. The suspect is currently being detained at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
