The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has announced the filing of new cases related to graffiti and property destruction, underscoring their commitment to improving the quality of life for county residents and small businesses. According to a statement from King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion, individuals convicted of vandalizing property and causing significant damage should be held accountable for the financial burden of their actions.

The latest filings, detailed in an email from Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, include charges against two individuals. These cases are separate from the 34 felony charges already filed in December against 16 defendants.

Jeremy Scharff Kim has been charged with Malicious Mischief in the Second Degree. The charges stem from an incident where Mr. Kim is accused of painting graffiti on a wall located on I-5 under the Yesler Street overpass. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) estimated the cost of the damage related to this incident to be $2,234.95, which includes damages from multiple defendants as outlined in court documents. Mr. Kim’s arraignment, where he will enter an initial plea, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 21 in room 1201 of the King County Courthouse. There are also four other co-defendants charged with Malicious Mischief in the Second Degree on December 28, 2024, whose cases are currently ongoing, and they have all pleaded not guilty.

Cameron Scott O’Neill faces a charge of Malicious Mischief in the Second Degree. He is accused of accepting a $1,000 payment and subsequently using a box cutter to heavily damage a billboard in the 12800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way South in Seattle. The damaged billboard advertised a competing cannabis business. Mr. O’Neill’s arraignment is also scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 21 in room 1201 of the King County Courthouse.

Notably, Mr. O’Neill also has four ongoing graffiti cases filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office:

• Case 24-1-02098-1: Charged with Malicious Mischief in the First Degree for graffiti on a wall near Leary Way in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The estimated damage of $5,996 allowed prosecutors to file the first-degree charge, which applies to damages exceeding $5,000.

• Case 24-1-02349-2: Charged with Malicious Mischief in the Second Degree involving graffiti on a State Department of Transportation retaining wall next to the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. WSDOT estimated the total damage from multiple co-defendants at $2,761.45.

• Case 24-1-07098-9: Charged with Malicious Mischief in the Second Degree for graffiti near 4th Avenue and Yesler in Seattle. The damage caused by multiple defendants was estimated at $895.38.

• Case 24-1-07084-9: Charged with Malicious Mischief in the Second Degree for graffiti on an I-5 wall in Seattle. WSDOT determined the cost of the damage from multiple co-defendants to be $2,234.95.

Mr. O’Neill has pleaded not guilty in all four of these prior graffiti cases. It is important to remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.