PA Graffiti Artist May Do Hard Time

PITTSBURGH -- A graffiti vandal characterized by his attorney as an exceptionally bright person who fell victim to drugs while causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages was sentenced Thursday to 2½ to five years in state prison.

Daniel Montano -- who police said went by the tag "MFONE" -- was also ordered to pay $234,000 in restitution and do 2,500 hours of community service.

The 22-year-old Highland Park man pleaded guilty to about 80 counts. He could have received a maximum of nearly 130 years in prison and more than $300,000 in fines.

"He probably won't be able to make restitution, but his lawyer made a good point that if he doesn't make the restitution, he'll be facing a lifetime of probation," said Tony Ceoffe, director of the Lawrenceville United community group. "Hopefully, once he does get out, that hanging over his head for the rest of his life will keep him from doing this again."

Montano's case became the focus of a public debate about graffiti, with community leaders pushing for a lengthy jail term while taggers defended the merits of artistic expression and said alternatives were needed.

The outcry earlier this year prompted City Council to stiffen penalties for graffiti vandals -- as well as property owners who don't remove tags. Fines will range from $250 to $1,400 for each case, and businesses that sell art supplies will be required to keep those items within sight of an employee or make them available only on request.

"We, the citizens of Pittsburgh, were absolutely fed up," said Councilman Bruce Kraus. "It is not a nuisance crime. It is a very serious crime that does unbelievable damage to a neighborhood."

After Montano pleaded guilty in May, the word "FORGIVE" was painted on at least three buildings in Lawrenceville -- including a huge display on the Arsenal Terminal building at 40th and Butler streets.

Ceoffe acknowledged Montano's considerable talent, saying he could probably become a millionaire as an artist. But he said authorities are spending too many resources on graffiti and he's glad the judge sent a message.

"This isn't a joke any more, and it needs to stop, and if you get caught doing it, there may be some serious consequences ahead for you," Ceoffe said.

Twice, the judge declined to accept Montano's plea, saying authorities needed to determine exactly how much damage was caused so he knows how much prison time should be handed out.

"If everybody had to go to jail for the maximum period of time for their crimes dictate, we wouldn't have enough jails in this country," said defense attorney Bill Cercone Jr.

Montano, whom authorities call Pittsburgh's No. 1 graffiti vandal, was most recently arrested in January. At that time, he was out on bond for similar charges.

Montano has been charged at least three times before for graffiti -- twice in Pittsburgh and once in San Francisco.