ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 5, 1996 TAG: 9603050047
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK
Roanoke authorities have filed additional charges against three young men accused of spray-painting graffiti throughout the downtown area.
A grand jury in Roanoke Circuit Court returned 45 indictments Monday afternoon that named Jason P. Atkins, 21, Michael M. Zimmerman, 19, and William R. Firebaugh, 18, all of Roanoke.
Most of the charges are misdemeanor offenses of defacing property. Atkins is charged with 10 offenses, Zimmerman 17 and Firebaugh 18.
Authorities say the men are responsible for graffiti that have distinct designs. One appears to be initials linked together; another appears to be a face with a lighted cigar hanging out of its mouth.
Responding to a late-night complaint last month, police arrested the men and charged them with five counts of property damage in connection with graffiti painted on the Wen-Don Chemical Building on Fourth Street, Paper Alley gift shop on Market Street, and three other businesses in the downtown area.
Since then, an investigation led to the additional charges. Police have said they do not believe the spray-painting was the work of any organized group.
LENGTH: Short : 31 linesby CNB