Pol: Give vandal jail time

Councilmember Peter Vallone is calling on the District Attorney to seek mandatory jail time for Andrew Morello, 18, a vandal who was allegedly caught defacing an “N” train subway window in Astoria on November 21 by an alert straphanger who captured the crime on his cell phone camera. Morello was arrested by the 114th Precinct and charged with several graffiti related crimes due to the picture.
“If this guy wants to scribble on walls and windows, he will have plenty of time to practice in his cell at Rikers,” Vallone said.
Morello was arraigned and charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti, possession of graffiti instruments and resisting arrest. He was released on an unspecified amount of bail.
According to Vallone, Morello is on probation from a 2007 arrest in which he attempted to bribe a police officer after being caught smoking marijuana.
“People are sick and tired of graffiti, and when they act to protect their neighborhood they shouldn’t feel threatened,” he said.