A Fillmore man with a previous record of vandalism is back in cuffs, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office reported. Leonardo Morales, 31, was nabbed by Fillmore patrol deputies for allegedly going on a graffiti spree, targeting multiple businesses with spray-painted tags, and has been charged with felony vandalism.
Caught in the act on the night of January 7, after a local business summoned the cops to report live vandalism, deputies arrived on West Ventura Street to find Morales in possession of the smoking gun—an assortment of spray paint cans, according to a news release from the Fillmore Police Department. He was promptly arrested, making for his second run-in with the law for similar crimes, which only added to the graffiti artist's troubles with a probation violation tacked on.
Morales's handiwork didn’t just stop at one location. Investigators linked him to additional vandalism at various spots ranging from the 700 to 900 blocks of West Ventura Street, and even city property on Old Telegraph Road. Consequently, he's been booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility with bail set at $20,000 while waiting for the wheels of justice to turn.
"Graffiti vandalism is an eyesore that directly affects the quality of life in our communities," the Fillmore Police stressed in a statement. Visually polluting the streets, this form of “art” slaps financial burdens on the shoulders of business owners and taxpayers who fork out thousands annually for graffiti cleanup. Morales, caught red-handed with the evidence spray-painted all over the city, finds himself potentially facing a serious time-out to ponder on his alleged street canvassing hobbies.
Fillmore residents are being urged to dial in suspicious activity and defacing as it happens. Should you spot a fresh tag, the city has a hotline for that too, with services ranging from paintovers to power washes to keep the urban landscape pristine. The Fillmore Police Department and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office are calling upon the local community to join hands in this anti-crime crusade, offering up to a $1,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest. Informants can stay anonymous, perhaps appealing to those who’d rather not be in the limelight.
