Man sentenced in Capitol graffiti case

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A 20-year-old Lansing man who pleaded guilty to spray-painting graffiti at the state Capitol has been sentenced to two years probation.

Jeffery Handley appeared Wednesday in Ingham County Circuit Court, where he also was ordered to pay nearly $3,100 in restitution to the State of Michigan.

The Lansing Community College student pleaded guilty earlier this fall to one count of destruction of a memorial or tomb, in exchange for prosecutors dropping two malicious destruction of property counts.

Graffiti discovered Sept. 6 by police included male and female stick figures painted on the Capitol columns and the phrase "Give art a chance" on the memorial.

Handley tells the Lansing State Journal (http://on.lsj.com/VwmFnO ) his punishment was fair and if he did it again, he "would do it in chalk."