Talented Youth Reprimanded for Expresssing Selves/ using MySpace

I read this in the Seattle PI. today.

Friday, May 12, 2006 · Last updated 5:37 a.m. PT

Teens arrested for graffiti after images posted on MySpace

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHOUGAL, Wash. -- It didn't take long for police to arrest a couple of brothers in a rash of graffiti after images of the scrawling appeared on the Internet with boastful remarks, some showing the apparent perpetrators.

The 13 colorful scrawlings appeared in March and April on business walls, fences, a billboard and bridges in this town of about 10,000 east of Portland, Ore. Last week Officer Tom Davis made posters offering a $150 reward for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever was responsible and hung them at Jemtegaard Middle School and Washougal High School.

Within two hours, police were contacted by two witnesses who directed investigators to MySpace.com, a popular Web site with teenagers, Sgt. Kim Yamashita said Wednesday.

"In some of the pictures they actually posed with the graffiti," Yamashita said. "That makes it a little easier."

Police obtained a warrant, searched the home of the brothers, ages 16 and 13, and seized paint, pens and markers, as well as a CD with more images of the graffiti.

The older brother was arrested Wednesday. The younger, 13, was arrested Sunday and was being held for investigation of first-degree malicious mischief and intimidating a witness.

Yamashita said the younger boy threatened to beat up someone he believed had informed on him.

Police pegged the cost of painting over the graffiti at $2,375.