Graffiti writer sentenced to probation

The man responsible for tagging hundreds of pieces of property in Marquette County was sentenced to 12 months probation in District Court Monday.

Alexander Watanen, 25, pled guilty to two counts of malicious destruction of personal property and one count of malicious destruction of a building in September.

He will serve six days in Marquette County Jail for those charges before his one year of probation.  If Watanen breaks his probation agreement, he will spend an additional 88 days in jail.

Watanen wrote the word ‘gerko’ on dozens of dumpsters, signs, and buildings in the city of Marquette and Marquette Township this summer.