Graffiti vandal sentenced

For the second time in two years, one of Pittsburgh's notorious graffiti vandals is heading to state prison.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning on Tuesday tagged Ian de Beer, 23, with a one- to three-year prison sentence; five years of probation; and orders to repay the more than $45,000 worth of damage he caused by spray-painting properties from Mt. Washington to Lawrenceville.

"When you do damage to someone's property, it's the same as theft," Manning told de Beer. "Sometimes somebody has to be punished."

Police charged de Beer, known by the graffiti tag "HERT," with causing damage to about 100 locations in the city. De Beer, originally from Buffalo and now living in Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in June to more than 70 charges.

In a statement from de Beer read by his attorney, the tagger said he regretted what he did.

"If I could go back, I would use the motivation I had to create something people would appreciate and something I could be proud of," de Beer wrote. "If given the opportunity, I'd remove all of the graffiti I did."

Community activists and police praise the sentence as a way to send a tough message to graffiti vandals -- that defacing public or private property can bring more than a slap on the wrist.

"I think it's great. It serves as a deterrent if they know they're going to get time in jail," said Lauren Byrne, executive director of Lawrenceville United. "If you look at the cost and time of getting it removed, it's a lot of work."

Her group dedicates eight Saturdays a year to removing the paint.

"Graffiti brings a perception that is associated with abandoned buildings -- and that's not what is going on in Lawrenceville," Byrne said. "We're trying to keep homes and businesses safe and clean, and for someone to disrupt that is sort of a slap in the face."

Patrick Nightingale, de Beer's attorney, argued for probation and called the sentence "excessive."

"While I respect Judge Manning's sentence, I don't believe it was appropriate, considering my client's lack of criminal background. It sets back a year to two years of recovering restitution," Nightingale said. "The sentence was clearly intended as a deterrent to those who might follow Mr. de Beer."

The self-proclaimed graffiti king of Pittsburgh -- Daniel J. Montano, 24, of Highland Park -- is serving 2 1/2 to 5 years in prison and five years' probation. He caused more than $232,000 in property damage during a years-long spree that targeted the East End.

Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski imposed Montano's sentence in 2008. State prison officials said Montano is serving time at a prison halfway house.

When police searched de Beer's home in Mt. Washington, they said they found more than 500 cans of spray paint; 300 photographs of graffiti; a computer containing HERT graffiti photographs and three videos showing de Beer applying HERT graffiti; and a sketchbook containing HERT graffiti.