Todd Shaughnessy an Utah District Court Judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of David William Noll after he failed to appear in court charged with vandalising two important murals by the British graffiti artist Banksy. In his absents Mr. Noll was charged with one count of criminal mischief for the distractive act which took place on New Years Eve 2014. The alleged criminal posted two videos on YouTube documenting the crime. Noll has now been charged with a second-degree felony dating back to 8th April 2014. He now could face up to 15 years in jail plus a $10,000 fine. A hearing will take place on 15 September.
Banksy created the artwork for the Sundance Film Festival screening the year his documentary ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’ was released, in 2010. One mural was badly damaged with the protective glass smashed and brown spray paint applied covering the well documented piece. The vandal was unable to break through the glass of the second mural as it had been protected with a steel frame and bullet-proof glass. Ken Davis, the coffee shop owner where the Banksy stencilled image of a man filming a flower appeared was delighted that the $1500 cost of protecting the mural payed off. The mural is a local tourist attraction and it has increased business in the coffee shop three fold.
David Noll now faces up to 15 years in jail plus a $10,000 fine. A hearing will take place on 15 September.