Vandalism at car dealership

A vandal who spray painted a crude word onto the hood of a brand-new $100,000 vehicle on the lot of a Kamloops auto dealer has been ordered to spend the next 12 months on probation.

Ray Wagner, 31, pleaded guilty Thursday in Kamloops provincial court to one count of mischief.

Court heard Wagner was being watched via closed-circuit cameras on April 30 when he walked onto the Kamloops Ford Lincoln lot on Halston Avenue.

Crown prosecutor Evan Goulet said the video showed Wagner approach a 2024 Ford F-150, which retails for more than $100,000, and use green spray paint to write the word “dick” on the hood.

“Police responded quite quickly, and within minutes found the person seen in the video,” Goulet said in court. “He was arrested and identified as Mr. Wagner.”

Defence lawyer Kyle Komarynsky said Wagner was intoxicated at the time and had no good reason to tag the truck.

“It was not a very sophisticated event,” he said. “He remained close to the scene and he was found with spray paint of the same colour on his body — I mean actually spray painted onto himself, not just the can he’s found with."

Wagner apologized to Kamloops provincial court Judge Michelle Stanford.

“I’d just like to thank you for your time and apologize for wasting any of it,” he said.

Stanford went along with a joint submission for 12 months of probation, during which time Wagner will be prohibited from visiting Kamloops Ford Lincoln and from possessing any paints or dyes.