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A Los Angeles woman pleaded guilty Monday to a federal vandalism charge for spray-painting graffiti on the front wall of the downtown federal courthouse two years ago during a street protest tied to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Colleen Newton, 24, entered her plea to a class-A misdemeanor count of “depredation against government property” for spray-painting “BACON GETS FRIED,” with the last word underlined, on the building’s outside front wall during the July 25, 2020, protest, according to her plea agreement filed in the courthouse that was the target of the attack.
Newton’s federal public defense attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer set sentencing for Jan. 9, 2023.
Prosecutors are recommending that Newton be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 30 days, followed by a year’s supervised release, and restitution, the plea agreement states.
The parties believe the applicable amount of restitution for repair to the building is $8,250, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Both sides further agree to request that the judge order, as part of Newton’s supervised release, a special condition requiring her to participate in mental health treatment.
The charge carries a possible maximum sentence of one year of imprisonment or a five-year period of probation, and a fine of $100,000, or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offense.
Although the incident took place two years ago, Newton was indicted this past February.
Demonstrators reportedly organized the protests in response to federal agents being sent to Portland, Oregon, to put down nightly protests that began following the May 25, 2020, killing of Floyd.
