KINGSTON, N.Y., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A tattoo artist who praised a vandal for spray-painting red goat images around a New York city's business district was charged with helping make the graffiti.
Geddes Paulsen, 23, of Kingston, N.Y. -- who said on his business' Facebook page he tattooed seven $37 red goats "since the weekend" and thanked "the Red Goat Vandal for bringing business to the shop" -- was charged with felony criminal mischief and the misdemeanor of making graffiti, Kingston Police Chief Egidio Tinti said in a statement.
Paulsen and Kingston photographer Maggie Salesman, 26, who was also charged, face maximum sentences of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison if convicted of the felony, Tinti said, crediting a security camera as "a great factor" in identifying the suspects.
Paulsen's Facebook post included a photo of a man with a red goat tattoo on his arm almost identical to the stenciled spray-painted images, about the size of footballs, that have since been removed from new, white planter boxes on Wall Street in the Hudson Valley city's historic uptown business and financial district.
Paulsen and Salesman were arraigned in Kingston City Court and released with appearance tickets, Tinti's statement said.
Kingston Mayor James Sottile told the Daily Freeman of Kingston if the suspects are convicted, the judge should order them to remove all graffiti in the city "with a toothbrush."
