3 Carson City residents arrested in graffiti taggings

Three Carson City residents were arrested Wednesday in last month’s graffiti vandalism in the area of Musser and Division streets.

Colton Jay Banta, 21, Tyler James Vansickle, 20, and Teri Riddle, 19, were arrested on damage-to-property-used-for-religion-or-education warrants following an investigation. Bail was set at $2,500 for each.

The taggings targeted First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, cars and homes in the area, business property and state property, according to the Sheriff’s Office incident report.

The area was a frequent target of graffiti taggers in late fall, Sheriff Ken Furlong has said.

Much of the graffiti consisted of vulgar phrases. Anti-religion messages were spray-painted on one of the churches.

Nevada’s anti-graffiti laws are among the toughest in the nation. If the damage costs less than $250, the crime is a misdemeanor. If it is more than $250 and less than $5,000, it is a gross misdemeanor, and if it is more than $5,000, it is considered a felony. Punishments range from community service and restitution to driver’s license suspension and jail time.

The counts the trio face are gross misdemeanors.