WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The man who vandalized a gay pride intersection in Delray Beach was sentenced Tuesday to two years probation, 100 hours of community service, a mental health screening and must pay $774 in court costs.
Alexander Jerich, 20, pleaded guilty in March to criminal mischief and reckless driving.
The multi-colored street art installation, located at Northeast First Street and Northeast Second Avenue, was unveiled to the public June 12, 2021.
Two days after the unveiling, prosecutors said, Jerich intentionally drove over the crosswalk, spinning his tires and leaving damaging marks.
Rand Hoch, the president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, released a statement Tuesday lashing out at the sentencing.
"This sentence is an outrage to the LGBTQ+ community," Hoch said. "The message being sent is 'Come on down to Palm Beach County, where you can vandalize cultural memorials all you want with no consequences.'"
State Attorney Dave Aronberg said last year that Jerich was originally arrested on a hate-crime charge, but prosecutors did not move forward with it under the letter of the law.
