Man charged in vandalism binge

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man is being charged with multiple counts of felony malicious destruction of property following a brazen Tuesday night vandalism binge.

Kyle Lee Jones, 20, was arrested Wednesday, just hours after police discovered the graffiti, said Sandpoint Police Chief Mark Lockwood. Beginning late Tuesday night, as many as 10 sites were tagged with spray paint, including the Bonner County Courthouse, Sandpoint City Hall, numerous local businesses and three to four Sandpoint police cars.

Using both physical evidence left at the crime scenes and technological means — including surveillance video from the courthouse — officers were able to locate and arrest Jones.

An investigation into the spree is ongoing and Lockwood would not rule out the possibility of more arrests.

Lockwood said Tuesday’s graffiti is not gang related and does not appear to be connected with a November vandalism spree that left thousands of dollars in damages to local businesses and the Healing Garden.

In that case, Owen I. Lefebrve and Cody Lee Newton, both 14-year-olds from Sandpoint, were each charged with one count of injury by graffiti, a misdemeanor.

Lefebrve pleaded guilty to tagging at Travers Park last October and Newton pleaded guilty to tagging Belwood’s Furniture the following month, according to unsealed juvenile court documents.

A Sandpoint Police report indicates a third 14-year-old was also accused of being involved in last fall’s tagging jag, but there is no record of him being charged criminally. Neither Lefebrve nor Newton were charged in connection with the Healing Garden vandalism.

The two charged teens admitted guilt and were sentenced last December, court records indicate.

Lefebrve was sentenced to 180 days in jail, 146 days of which were suspended. He was ordered to serve four days and 30 additional days at the court’s discretion. Newton was given a 90-day sentence with 58 days suspended. He had the option of serving six days in the Work In Lieu of Detention program and receiving 12 days credit. Newton could be ordered to serve balance of the sentence, 20 days, at the court’s direction.

Both were ordered to participate in a graffiti-removal program and Newton was ordered to pay $650 in restitution, records show.