Accused top graffiti vandal arrested in Phoenix

Phoenix resident William Barajas, 20, is shown in this photograph provided by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office May 16, 2011. Barajas, whom prosecutors claim is the most prolific graffiti vandal in Phoenix was arrested and charged with criminal damage, authorities announced on May 16, 2011.

PHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona man prosecutors call the most prolific graffiti vandal in Phoenix has been arrested and charged with criminal damage, authorities said on Monday.

William Barajas, 20, was taken into custody on Thursday after he was allegedly caught scrawling his work on a pole in the Phoenix area, authorities said.

Barajas, who uses the name "MAWD", admitted under questioning that he committed more than 300 graffiti acts during a 15-month period that began in October 2009, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said.

The Phoenix resident faces a maximum sentence of 6.25 years in prison if convicted on both counts.

"Graffiti crimes victimize entire neighborhoods by defacing property and leaving a costly eyesore that degrades housing values and creates an environment that invites additional crime," Montgomery said in a statement.

"By aggressively prosecuting these crimes, we intend to send a message to these so-called artists that they will pay a stiff price for their handiwork," he said.

Authorities believe Barajas took over the tag of the area's top graffiti vandal last year after another Phoenix man was sent to prison.

Joel Delgado, 27, was sentenced to one year in prison and four years probation last November under a plea deal for defacing about 300 places during a 20-month spree.

Barajas also faces three burglary charges that are unrelated to his graffiti acts, authorities said.

(Reporting by David Schwartz, Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Jerry Norton)