'Revok' graffiti writer sentenced to 180 days in jail
The graffiti writer known as Revok, whose work is displayed in the "Art in the Streets" exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art, was sentenced Monday to 180 days in jail after a judge found that he had violated the terms of his probation in a previous vandalism conviction, court officials said.
Jason Williams, 34, also known as Revok, appeared in a Van Nuys courtroom Monday where he was found to have violated his probation on a misdemeanor vandalism charge by failing to pay adequate restitution to his victims, according to prosecutors.
Williams was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport last Thursday as he prepared to board a plane for Ireland.
His arrest came amid controversy surrounding the museum's "Art in the Streets" graffiti and street art exhibition, which the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department have criticized as promoting vandalism and tagging.
Sheriff’s investigators said they are conducting a wide investigation into Revok.
"As a result of evidence discovered during his April 21 arrest, other incidents of vandalism were found in the county of Los Angeles," said Capt. Mike Parker.
Investigators said the L.A. County district attorney’s office could file felony charges against Williams, who was arrested by a sheriff’s transit team that specializes in catching vandals.
The team recently arrested Cristian Gheorghiu, also known as Smear, another tagger-turned-artist. Gheorghiu received 45 days' community service for violating his probation. He was arrested two days after The Times published a story on his life as an artist with tagging roots.
Revok is among the best known and boldest taggers in Los Angeles. Williams, a one-time member of the graffiti crew “Mad Society Kings” or MSK, was arrested in 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, after a series of highly publicized large pieces.
A resident of the Fairfax district, Williams was placed on probation for felony vandalism in Indio in 2009 during the Coachella music festival.
He also was arrested in November 2009 by deputies near the 33rd Graffiti Art Store, where images of his graffiti were featured. During a later search of Williams' home, deputies found several hundred paint cans, a police badge and a fire extinguisher — a tool commonly used for applying large tags.
They also found a stolen detour sign and digital photos of his graffiti work on his phone.
RELATED:
Tagging outside an L.A. street art exhibit fuels debate
Graffiti artists speak out in support of 'Art in the Streets'
Street artist 'Space Invader' believed detained in L.A. vandalism case
-- Richard Winton
Photo: Revok works as part of a team on a mural to promote action thriller "Fast and Furious 4" in Los Angeles on March 13, 2009. Credit: Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images
EDITOR'S PICKS:
180 days........well that is a good start.
now file the felony vandalism charges Mr. DA
Posted by: wake up | April 25, 2011 at 04:31 PM
Seriously?
Posted by: John | April 25, 2011 at 04:41 PM
His talents should not be wasted--have him paint toilets and cells in the joint.
Posted by: Jorge2 | April 25, 2011 at 05:04 PM
Wow! La have strange priorities. 180 days in prison for a grafitti artist? Just ridiculous...
Posted by: Atlanta | April 25, 2011 at 06:00 PM
FREE REVOK!
acknowledging the fact there will always be the self righteous internet jackboot thugs, REVOK will continue to crush.....nuff said.
Posted by: eonedee | April 25, 2011 at 07:39 PM
jailing artists now?? retards!
Posted by: benJammin | April 25, 2011 at 08:13 PM
The cops want to know your comments . Please give them what they want . How about we take away their stuffed piggy banks and rather fund what's important in this hole of a failing country. ... Education for a start. Bastards!
Posted by: N1H1 | April 25, 2011 at 08:19 PM
graffiti and artist are a contridiction in terms!!! Try juvenile delinquent... flake... A HOLE!!!!! Loser..... scumbag and CRIMINAL!!!!
33rd Graffiti Art Store ???? that means TAGGER SUPPLY!!! are the cops even smart enough to watch this place for the scumbag taggers?????
Posted by: Borchy | April 25, 2011 at 09:10 PM
Hats off to the Sheriff's Department for continuing this case. Finally we start to see these vandals paying for the damage they have caused!! OUTSTANDING!!!
Posted by: Randy Campbell | April 25, 2011 at 09:32 PM
amazing graffiti really nice job thanks
Posted by: graffiti artist | April 25, 2011 at 11:22 PM
34 years old and this is what he's up to?
Posted by: 2 cents | April 26, 2011 at 07:44 AM
@ 2cents. you ever had your stuff in a museum?
Posted by: neutral ground | April 26, 2011 at 08:23 AM
You all are so quick to damn him but know nothing about him.
Scum? He's actually a very standup guy.
You all act like the cops putting this much effort into catching someone who put some paint on a wall is a victory for LA...it's a huge failure. Rather than embrace the MOCA art show & celebrate the fact that businesses in that area have seen a 100% rise in business, the powers that be decide to fight it and arrest one of the featured artists.
...anyone know if they've caught the two thugs who beat that giants fan half to death on opening day? Anyone know if they're any closer to catching them? Yeah, seems really smart to put this much effort & spending into catching an artist.
And then Los Angeles really showed it's true colors & it's agenda/vendetta against artists when they gave Revok a $350,000 bail amount. For a non-violent crime? OJ Simpson got a lower bail when he was suspected of murder. A child molester & another person who left a baby in a car for 6 hours in 105 degree heat just got bail amounts around $100,000 each, but this super evil tagger who's paint on the wall is sooooooo dangerous deserves a $340,000 bail amount.? Riiiiiiiiiight.
And "2 cents", yes he's 34 and doing this...and probably makes more off one gallery painting than you make in 4 months. Something to ponder...
Posted by: Swell | April 26, 2011 at 08:30 AM
Lovely to see these hatefull reaxions here. So narrowminded and frustrated. Land of the free thats a contradixion! The biggest police state in the world, privacy in the US is a meaningless word.
I love Revoks pieces! He's got his own style developed. Very nice!
And dont start whining about paying yer taxes. Mostly of your money goes to the Militairy Industrial Complex.
Posted by: a Street Artist (former graffiti artist) | April 26, 2011 at 08:31 AM
Maybe LAPD need to solve real problems with killing peoples,drugs and robbers, before to put talented graffiti-artists in jail?
Posted by: Ivan the Blade | April 26, 2011 at 08:31 AM
Those who say they shouldn't be prosecuted 1) aren't cleaning up the "mess" and 2) aren't paying for it out of their pocket. If they want to purchase places where they display their "art," then have at it but if someone else owns the property they're defacing, it's a crime and yes, it should be prosecuted. This isn't his first time around the block. He's had chances to stop what he's doing and has clearly refused to do so, so yes, the punishment should be steep. As B.F. Skinner said, "Consequences determine behavior." Revok has brought this on himself.
Posted by: newshawk | April 26, 2011 at 09:30 AM
FREE REVOK ! WORLDS FINEST . EFF THE POLICE
Posted by: zed | April 26, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time. It's that simple. You might want to call it art, but if you don't have permission to mark on someones wall, then vandalism is the correct term to use.
Posted by: Realist | April 26, 2011 at 12:22 PM
LAPD's priority's are skewed. I know a kid who stabbed someone and just got six months....
Posted by: ADAM | April 26, 2011 at 12:29 PM
....meanwhile multiple unsolved rapes, missing children, murders and DUI homicides are waiting to be solved while police "conducting a wide investigation into Revok".
is this really the best use of police time & taxpayer money?
btw- this paticular artist WAS working (free of charge) on a (legal) anti DUI homicide tribute for my child-- whose killers of course are not in jail like this artist is.
*facepalm*
Posted by: granny_in_SC | April 26, 2011 at 01:00 PM
How is vandalism art? Real artist don't have to destroy someone elses property to make a statement.
When I walk around LA it makes me really sad to see so much random tagging. I have no problem with grafitti artist that create wonderful works of art legally. The sad thing is that so many murals have been destroyed by taggers. Why are they destroying other people's work of arts? I remember driving down the 101 as a child and seeing all the beautiful murals. Now they have tagging all over them.
A crime, is a crime. It doesn't matter if it's a muder or tagging. Tagging isn't a harmless crime. It affects the community and the persons who's property was damaged.
Posted by: Sharon | April 26, 2011 at 01:14 PM
Borchy > It's paint or a marker on a surface, big deal. You need to chill out man and get some real priorities in life. Graff isnt your thing? Fine, then leave us all alone to paint the city. Enjoy your boring concrete jungle.
#freerevok
Posted by: jason k | April 26, 2011 at 01:43 PM
Swell> You are right on all accounts man. A person like revok deserves respect.
Alot of these idiots do not have any clue about the man and where he's been and what he has done in life and just hear or read 'tagger' and 'graffiti' and jump on the bandwagon to diss. Losers.
#freerevok
Posted by: Peta S | April 26, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Huge fan of REVOKs art for one. who wouldve thought theyll do a follow up to see if hes paying for the damage he has done. not surprised on the bail,did more damage then that in the streets. Big ups to the crew. you have my support.
Posted by: SPYER | April 26, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Free Revok
His most recent work has been on legal walls, and is a pioneer in the arts community (i.e art in the streets). For all of you naysayers out there, the art that you are all so quick to frown upon is actually commisioned by some of your biggest corporate companies, the same companies that some of you may have stock in, so before you throw stones, be thankful for this cutting edge art, you might have made a buck or two from it. LAPD what a shame that a state that is in such financial ruin would spend such resources on prosecuting street artists especially one that has not necessarily been street active since his arrest in Australia. If the system really wanted to serve its purpose then they would go out and arrest child molesters, murderers, drug peddlers, thieves and vagrants.
Revok come home soon...
Peace & blessings
Posted by: ayepea | April 26, 2011 at 02:50 PM