Lang
10/7/23
A suspect accused of spray-painting the outside of over a dozen downtown Iowa City businesses has been given a deferred judgment.
On Thursday, Judge Brandon Schrock gave 21-year-old Jacob Theisen of Church Street deferred judgments on charges of 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief and Interference with Official Acts Causing Bodily Injury. A Possession of a Fictitious ID charge was dropped.
Officers say they observed Theisen riding an e-bike through the Ped Mall around 1:30am on May 5th. He reportedly pulled out a can of spray paint and began marking up a business’ wall. Once police identified themselves, Theisen allegedly ran and was caught on South Dubuque Street. There, he reportedly fought with the officers and had to be taken to the ground to be apprehended. An officer suffered injuries to his hand and elbow during the altercation.
A post-arrest search allegedly turned up a fictitious ID showing him to be of legal drinking age. Under Miranda, Theisen reportedly admitted to defacing over a dozen buildings on East Washington, East Burlington, West Jefferson, North Dubuque and North Clinton streets and Iowa Avenue. Damage at each location was estimated to be under $300.
If convicted on all counts against him, Theisen could have been sentenced to up to 37 months in jail.