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SALT LAKE CITY — A Midvale man who allegedly told police he took a bus to downtown Salt Lake City so he could vandalize something is now facing criminal charges.
Damien McNear, 42, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with three counts of criminal mischief, two second-degree felonies and a class B misdemeanor.
On July 16, police were called to the Mercedes-Benz of Salt Lake car dealership, 198 E. 500 South, after McNear walked in and told an employee that he had painted several vehicles, according to charging documents.
When questioned by police, McNear said he took a bus to Salt Lake City from Midvale the day before "and decided he wanted to vandalize property in the city. He said that he bought a can of black spray paint and intended to damage property," the charges state.
McNear claimed he had also used his spray paint at two other car dealerships, a church and on headstones at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, according to the charges. A total of 10 vehicles were spray painted, according to police. A damage estimate for the church was not available, and employees at the cemetery were unable to find any headstones that had been painted.
