Los Angeles utility worker charged in citywide vandalism spree

A Los Angeles utility worker has been charged with 12 felony counts of vandalism after allegedly participating in a yearlong graffiti spree, the New York Post reported. Javier Rezendez Rocha, an electrical craft helper for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, allegedly helped a crew cause nearly $173,000 in damage. [1]

Prosecutors stated that the vandalism spree ran from August 2025 through August 2026. The New York Post reported that Rocha, who has been employed by the utility department since 2018, allegedly used his specialized utility gear and climbing ropes to help the group scale city buildings. [1]

Rocha earns a base annual salary ranging from $75,335 to $102,249 in his city role. Modern graffiti typically features stylized signatures and quick block letters on public surfaces, representing an ongoing tension between individual expression and public space control. [1][3]