The man who caused $23,000 in damage to a large dinosaur sculpture outside the Phoenix Art Museum has been sentenced to more than four years in prison.
In March, Todd Maddox, 59, was arrested after museum staff witnessed him breaking off pieces of a marble wall and throwing them at the large red sculpture called "Jurassic Age.” The bronze and steel work by Chinese artist Sui Jianguo is on display outside the museum’s entrance off Central Avenue.
Maddox told police he was drinking and using methamphetamine, and had been damaging other property in the area, near Central Avenue and McDowell Road, throughout the morning.
Maddox pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage, a Class 4 felony, and was ordered to pay restitution.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in a press release Wednesday said that Maddox “has an extensive criminal history spanning nearly two decades, including eight prior felony convictions.”
“Public art enriches our community and belongs to everyone,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in a statement. “The damage caused in this case resulted in costly repairs and deprived visitors of the opportunity to enjoy this exhibit as intended.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: The photo caption has been updated to correctly spell Sui Jianguo's name.
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