Posted on 08/03/2012 3:56:49 PM PDT by Altariel
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -
A judge found enough evidence to convict a Richmond mom who is charged with vandalism, but he's delaying a final disposition until she performs community service hours.
29-year-old Susan Mortensen allowed her daughter to draw on rocks on Belle Isle with chalk.
Mortensen will now serve 50 hours of community service in order for the judge to dismiss her charge.
In court, NBC12 learned a little more about the confrontation between Mortensen and Officer Stacy Rogers, who saw her daughter writing on the rocks.
Outside the courthouse, people support Susan Mortensen with their own chalk on the sidewalk. However, in court, the officer who reprimanded her back in March says she responded with an attitude and curse words.
"I don't think I should comment on that," said Mortensen after the trial. I agree that the outcome is something I would agree with and I thought it would help as far as doing community service."
Mortensen has since then apologized. She's agreed to complete 50 hours of community service through the James River Park System.
Mortensen will have to paint about 200 boundary posts west and east of the Boulevard Bridge. Before she even starts, she'll have to scrape off the old paint and remove surrounding weeds. It's vital to finish the project before the weather gets too cold for the paint to stick.
The parks manager says he'd like to set a date before Thanksgiving. Mortensen's supporters say they're still upset she was charged for letting her daughter draw on the rocks. Police and park leaders say chalk is the same as graffiti.
"There's no way to compare two," Meg McLain with Virginia Cop Block. "When you spray paint something, it's pretty much there. But when you chalk something, it rains, it's gone. You'll never know."
"It is all the same thing," said James River Park Systems Park Manager, Ralph White. "A couple of weeks ago, I was covering over pornographic drawings done in chalk. It doesn't matter what the medium is. It's offensive."
Even though both sides share their point-of-views, they agreed on a common ground to help beautify the James River Park System.
Back in 2010, court documents show the same officer issued Mortensen a summons for destruction of property on Belle Isle.
Mortensen is scheduled to start her community service this week.
We can’t have the serfs scribbling upon the king’s rocks now, can we?
Looks like there's a Hatfield vs McCoy twist happening here.
The video doesn’t make it clear at all just how bad the chalking was. I recall many times coming home to find my young daughter and her friends had filled my driveway with flowers, trees, horses and other chalk drawings. I always though of it in a positive light myself, but you know how hard arsed and totalitarian those park service people can get.
Not to mention draining the king's wetlands...
Good Lord... it is just chalk. A little water goes a long way.
OMG, out of my ignorance, I’ve created a monster!
Because chalk is soft, non-abrasive and easily washes off in the rain, I’ve encouraged my four year old grandaughter to write on my sidewalk, porch and driveway with colorful chalk. In fact, I’ve used the fun of art to teach her how to write her name. I’m so sorry to abetted some kind of criminal conduct, please forgive me!
See my tagline.
This should be max...$100 fine
I'm calling BS on this. You don't cover up chalk drawings, you take a water hose to it. And of course he tried to up the ante with claiming the chalk drawings were pronographic. Sure, as if everyone out doing graffiti does it with little kid chalk.
Please report to your nearest re-education camp for attitude adjustment.
Unless, of course, you pay a $50,000 Forgiveness Fee to Comrade Altariel to ensure your criminal activity is expunged from the record....
A bargain to help save the rocks from chalk vandals.
That’s funny. Back in 09’ I came out of the hospital, after being comatose for four months, and, was told I had a “bad attitude.” I’ll spare myself the embarrassment of telling you my reply. Then they suggested Zolof, actually, they tried to make me take it!
I’ve undured 4 near death episodes in the last ten years. Life can’t kill me and I won’t/can’t quit. A little ‘tude just proves I’m alive.
Re-education, that sounds like a little fun, well, least ways for me!
... but a little crooked.
In the mean time government employees are abetting illegal aliens, running guns to Mexican cartels, passing out money illegally to donars, misusing government funds for vacations and bonuses, imposing laws that were never enacted through illegal regulation and bullying...
We are coming down hard on the chalk lady? She’s just a peasant.
She already got more than Jon Corzine.
No it's not, Ralph. In fact, it's not even close.
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