STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Port Richmond man who etched his graffiti tag on 10 separate bus shelters along Capodanno Boulevard ended by scratching his way into a six-month term at Rikers Island.
Edward M. Chimera, 25, of Cortlandt Street, pleaded guilty to a felony count of criminal mischief yesterday, in exchange for six months in jail, five years of probation, $2,900 in restitution and 100 hours of community service.
The NYPD’s Citywide Vandals Task Force started building a dossier on Chimera in October, when a patrolling officer caught him defacing a bus shelter.
An investigation followed, and he was arrested last month, charged with scratching 10 city bus shelters in June, and spray-painting 13 other locations — mainly businesses, fences, trash bins and ice boxes on Forest Avenue and Richmond Terrace.
“Let there be no confusion: Graffiti vandalism is a quality-of-life crime committed against our entire community and will be prosecuted accordingly,” said District Attorney Daniel Donovan.
“For any aspiring graffiti vandals seeking fame by vandalizing property, let me assure you there is no glory in a felony conviction and taking residence on Rikers Island.”
Chimera earned an upbraiding from State Supreme Court Justice Leonard Rienzi yesterday, after he told the judge that his plea represented his “retirement” from the graffiti scene.
“You are not retiring from some honorable pursuit. You are a vandal,” Rienzi said.
The borough’s newly formed graffiti unit nabbed an alleged teen vandal accused of leaving his unwanted mark in Great Kills.
