Disgruntled tenant could face criminal charges after spray painting apartment

Daniella Rivera

A disgruntled tenant is sending a loud and clear message to his apartment complex. He told News 12’s Daniella Rivera he’s moving out, and is upset the complex will not be returning his $500 dollar deposit. But we’re learning from police, he could now face criminal charges.

David Spears says he’s lived at the Heritage Hills Apartment complex in Sherman for three years, and he’s been a model tenant, until now. He says there’s no reason for the complex to keep his deposit, so he’s telling them what he thinks with a can of spray paint.

“I’m upset. You can see I’m upset.” he said.

He chose to show his anger by using spray paint to write phrases like “Thou shalt not steal,” and “God bless America” all over the apartment walls and floors.

“I have a $500 damage deposit and they stole it from me,” he said, “Because I haven’t damaged nothin.”

Apartment managers declined to speak on camera, but told us off camera they warned spears several times that he had to give a 30-day notice in writing in order to get his refund.

Spears told us the same thing, “They told me I have to give a written statement. They said you have to.

Reporter: So did you?

“I do not have to! I told them that I was leaving. I don’t care if they got some stupid rules, I told them that I’ll trash this %@#$*& place. That’s saying it nice, isn’t it?” he said.

Reporter: You’ve written quite a statement on these walls.

“I meant to!”

When asked what he thought apartment management would do when they saw the vandalized apartment, Spears responded, “I could care less, actually. I’m not afraid of them.”

But this spray paint protest could land him behind bars.

“If you are intentionally or knowingly damaging someone else’s property, then it is a crime,” said Sherman Police Sgt. D.M. Hampton.

Sgt. Hampton says depending on how much monetary damage is done, Spears could face criminal mischief charges ranging from a small misdemeanor, to a felony.

But Spears says he did this for “poor people,” “They just get money everywhere they can, from our poor people, and it’s not right.

Source: kxii