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Over 500,000 people have watched the YouTube clip of graffiti artist "Buket" tagging a Los Angeles freeway sign while perched, without a harness, 20 feet above flowing traffic (see video above). At least a few of those 500,000 viewers, though, happened to be cops who harbored a serious desire to put an end to the street artist's brazen attempts to bring color to a drab urban landscape.
According to the LA Times, police identified Buket, aka Cyrus Yazdani, arrested him in May, and then sentenced him on Thursday to almost 4 years in prison, ordering him to pay over $100,000 in restitution for damaging public property. While Yazdani was obviously breaking the law, the sentence does seem somewhat harsh, particularly considering other YouTube related arrests that involved (alleged) budding serial killers, farting-on-food, and even rape.
In this instance, rather than documenting his outlandish act to gain some e-cred, Buket probably should have turned to the foremost graffiti artist in the world, Banksy, for guidance. It's definitely possible to be a highly successful and respected vandal, while still maintaining a closely-guarded sense of anonymity and mystery. [From: The Los Angeles Times via Mashable]
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Comments
135
Subscribe to commentsrtdtomcatSep 14th 2009 2:01PM
He would have gotten less time had he killed someone while drunk driving. Just like D.Stallworth. 28 days in jail for killing someone. 4 years in jail for graffiti. Where is the justice?
anqetofaswanSep 14th 2009 2:05PM
It's ridiculous to me that a man who beats his girl friend gets a day in prison while a man who vandalizes gets 4 years. Give me a break. He broke the law and there should be consequences, but 4 years is harsh, especially considering the amount of time DUI offenders get.
lbcfilmSep 14th 2009 2:04PM
good. he has been caught several times. He is a rich kid that deserves to be in jail
mark youngSep 14th 2009 2:06PM
I feel so much safer now. (not) It strikes me as amazing that normally rational people would abandon their sensibilities simply because someone else offended them.
mikeSep 14th 2009 2:14PM
He should be doing graffiti removal all over the city and start with his own. I would bet after 5000 hrs of that might cure him. Jail is for violent offenders and that, he's not. Isn't the punishment suppose to fit the crime.
ricosauve62Sep 14th 2009 2:15PM
Thats what happens when you grow up with no parental guidance, no conscience of the damage that you do to the community that you have a privilage in living in, sound like an uneducated person when talking. Being jailed is the best thing that can happen to him. He will receive dicipline, opportunity for education and maybe when he comes out, he can appreciate and contribute something to society....thanks Judge.
MeganSep 14th 2009 2:23PM
If he had fallen, he would have the audacity to sue.
GloriaSep 14th 2009 2:33PM
this writter writes " does seem somwhat harsh"... what the hell. these people damage walls all over our country and world with their crappy writtng and colors and this writter has the nerve to write HARSH...these people should be caught and do alot of time . It sucks and looks so bad for any community.... Brick walls on the freeway should be made to have palants grow on them to say costs and this kind of damage!!!!!! I hope he is not made to be a star this low life!
Tony MarkovichSep 14th 2009 5:27PM
Punishment is too harsh? Baloney, this crime to me is worst than rape or murder, shoot the bastard, just wait until he gets off of his perch so no one else gets hurt.
mmanozziSep 14th 2009 6:16PM
We have a clown like that in Boston.......... they've been after his butt for years, but they can't seem to just lock him up.......... his trash is everywhere...... and here I thought defacing or destruction of private or public property was a crime.. only in Massachusetts.
FlashSep 21st 2009 12:47AM
What most people (including the author of this article) seem to be missing here is that he was already on probation for previous similar offenses - lots of them. He also paid very little of a huge fine he had agreed to pay as a condition of his orginal light sentence. After the civilized slap on the wrist he was given, he then had the balls to go out like an asshole and do more of his crap. He had his chance and blew it. The sentence is not harsh. He just didn't learn that maybe not breaking the law and staying out of jail (especially after committing jailable offenses) is worth more than getting up on some freakin' overpass and scribbling his stupid nickname. He's an artist? Sure. Just call him Vincent Van-Dal.
lugnutSep 24th 2009 12:13PM
THROWUPS are nothing more than vandalism real writers like myself
get paid (YES PAID) to do full color stuff on the side of buildings or the inside of bars skateshops skateparks or trendy hangouts.. PEOPLE .Dont let this talentless hack ruin it for all the aerosol assassins how have respect for others property that get paid for there skills.
THIS GUY IS NOTHING MORE THAN A WASTE OF PAINT
tommygnosisSep 24th 2009 6:11PM
in california, this kid will now do 4 years and be forced in a criminal underworld that makes tagging walls seem juvenile. when he gets out, he will be skilled in all kinds of fun stuff like murder, extortion,drug manufacturing and so on, way to go california. get em
Pyroechidna1Sep 28th 2009 4:52PM
I've got no sympathy for taggers. I took a hike up to my favorite waterfall the other day, and you know what I found? Graffiti. Taggers ruin everything from natural landmarks to shiny new train cars. No, I've got no sympathy for this guy at all.
emailOct 15th 2009 4:42PM
Pass legislation to inspect bikers backpacks at night for paint cans immediate four year jail term if caught. Also to ticket skateboarders if anywhere other than an authorized facility. Document heaviest graffitti areas and station guards there 24 hours. Document gang areas and hangouts and establish areas to stop cars with two or more males in them for guns and gang affiliation activity.