LA Man Charged with Vandalizing Venice Vietnam War Memorial Wall

Los Angeles, CA -- A 24-year-old man who allegedly defaced the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Venice just before Memorial Day was charged today with felony vandalism.

Angel Castro faces up to six years in prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney's Office.
He is expected to be arraigned this afternoon.

Castro was arrested Wednesday afternoon without incident in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles, according to Ramon Montenegro of the sheriff's Transit Policing Division.

"Suspect Castro admitted to his role in the vandalism of the Veterans Memorial Wall," Montenegro said.
Sheriff's officials said the exact date the memorial wall at Pacific Avenue and Sunset Court was defaced is unclear, but it is believed the vandalism occurred the week before Memorial Day, which was May 30. Prosecutors said the vandalism apparently occurred on May 25.

Castro allegedly uses the moniker LITER, which was one of the four monikers found at the scene, Montenegro said.

The sheriff's department asked anyone with information about the three others -- NONER, PHEB and SNAKE -- to call Transit Policing Division detectives at (888) 950-SAFE (7233).

Detectives have released surveillance photos of the person believed to be NONER, who is believed to be linked to a tagging crew based in the Bay Area.

City News Service; Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department