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Downtown L.A. Chainsaw Tree Vandal Sentenced to Two Years in County Jail

A judge set an April hearing to determine restitution for the 13 downtown trees cut last spring.

Overview

  • He pleaded no contest to nine felony and two misdemeanor vandalism counts, entering the plea over prosecutors’ objections.
  • The spree felled or damaged 13 trees between April 13 and April 19, 2025, and he was arrested April 22 at an encampment in Chinatown.
  • Investigators linked him through surveillance video, a spray‑painted chainsaw recovered at his camp, and a Harbor Freight receipt bearing his name.
  • Witnesses reported nearly $350,000 in combined damage to city and private trees, while city testimony put municipal losses just under $175,000.
  • A restitution hearing is scheduled for April 15, and the city has begun two‑for‑one replacement plantings downtown.