Sentencing set in felony graffiti case

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man accused of tagging government offices, police cars and businesses with graffiti is scheduled to be sentenced later this month in 1st District Court.

Kyle Lee Jones has entered into a plea agreement with the state which recommends incarceration at the jail, a suspended prison sentence and full restitution, court records show.

The length of the jail sentence is at the court’s discretion and a restitution amount is pending.

In exchange for the plea to a felony vandalism charge, the state has agreed not to seek additional vandalism charges stemming from the graffiti spree in Sandpoint last month.

Jones, 20, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19. The court is not required to adopt the sentence recommendations in the plea agreement.

Vandalism resulting in damages of $1,000 boosts the charge from the misdemeanor to felony level. The felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Jones’ spray painted insignias turned up in a dozen locations around town. Sandpoint City Hall, the Bonner County Courthouse, Sandpoint Police vehicles, Lake Pend Oreille High School, the Bristlecone Apartments, Coffelt Funeral Service, Belwood’s Furniture, Lumberman’s, the Cycle Haus and the Animal Medical Care clinic were tagged, according to police reports.

Sandpoint Police cracked the case is short order, mainly through informants and by shaking down witnesses who were present when Jones went on the graffiti binge.