Michael Kroetsch: Charged & on the Run for Defacing Obama Mural

SomethingOfANeerDoWell

Um, apparently a lot of you can't read. The article says "near the Breakfast Klub." It's on the building across the street.

Poissant

@SomethingOfANeerDoWell (not that it's relevant, but the folks at breakfast club own the property across the street).

SomethingOfANeerDoWell

Um, apparently a lot of you can't read. The article says "near the Breakfast Klub." It's on the building across the street.

Craigley

So it's a business for Democrats? Mrs. Obama would not approve with the death-grub they serve.

MadMac topcommenter

Huh? You want to take a belt with your "Yankee/1979 name on it," to a 58 year old man? I mean if that's your thing, we're not judging but then go all Glen Beck. Did someone miss medication time?

Craigley

In the time before Yankee (1979) every kid in my HISD school had a belt with their name on it. Now it's like flippn Halloween.

Craigley

In the time before Yankee (1979) every kid in my HISD school had a belt with their name on it. Now it's like flippn Halloween.

Rendell3

In Texas, private property is sancrosanct, period, you don't mess with it. Right wingnut Michael Berry would even go one further than charging this guy with a felony: He claims that you ought to be able to shoot a fleeing burglar in the back if you suspect he is stealing your or your neighbor's property. So, it's hardly odd or unfair that this guy's being prosecuted with a felony for damaging personal property. This is da frontier, pardner.

Nina Afrique

2 Like

Defacing or graffiti writing on a private property is a crime. Don't go to The Breakfast Klub if you don't want to see the mural. Hope he is caught and prosecuted.

Javier Gomez

2 Like

Defacing property is just simply wrong, people need to get their heads out of their asses & learn to respect & tolerate a little more, don't like the mural? simply don't look at it, it's just that simple folks, same thing can be said about a gay couple walking down the street if it offends you, an Islamic temple holding worship service, or the music blasting at the local record store, it's all about respect for other people's values & using some common sense.

Dallas Hölmes

whats funny is that its going to continue happening. no matter how many times its repainted/replaced. one man's 'vandalism' is another man's opinion. the other funny thing is everyone getting their panties in a knot over something as trivial as this. grow up. get wound up about something that matters, not a silly mural that celebrates a crooked politician.

MadMac topcommenter

But if it was a mural celebrating something/one important to you...

Andrew Hernandez

I think it's funny that just a few months ago Houston Press was glorifying a well know graffiti writer, yet this type of art expression is looked down upon. I will always justify vandalism of any sort.

H_e_x

@Andrew Hernandez Cognitive dissonance rears its ugly head again.

Anse

@Andrew Hernandez Eh...my main complaint about graffitti is that most of it really sucks. It's either some stupid misspelled cussword, or some kind of gangland territorial pissing. Most of it isn't exactly of the Banksy artistic variety. These portraits of the president are pretty good. But if they're going to be defaced, at least make an effort.

Evan Clayson

1 Like

It's sad/funny people are trying to justify vandalism.

Ben Ni

It seems like your conclusion, like I assume all your political conclusions, lack factual evidence or reasoning. You have no idea how many news sources I go to. I feel sorry for anyone who feels like they have to troll and make rude comments on Facebook post to a news source they disagree with.

Benjyman Pritchett

Is seems some people get their news from multiple sources and the ignorant ones only go where they don't need reason or information. I feel bad for folks like you Ben Ni, you fall into the second set.

Ben Ni

2 Like

I think it's so sad that people have no decency or grace enough to understand that defacing private property is wrong and newsworthy. You might not like the president but don't disrespect the office or people's right to a political opinion. This is an alternative press, so if you don't like what it reports, go back to sucking up to Faux News.

conebaby topcommenter

3 Like

I find it shocking, the number of folks in this city who think it's okay for someone to deface private property, simply because they dislike the president.

Anse

2 Like

We've got two 50-odd foot statues of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston an hour or two of either side of the city. We've got an entire mountain in South Dakota carved with the heads of four presidents. So somebody painted a wall with Obama's face, and folks get bent. He's the first black president. He'll probably have more than a few walls painted in his honor before it's all said and done. And 50 years from now, conservatives will probably try to claim him as one of their own like they're doing MLK now anyway.

Benjyman Pritchett

What I took away from the story is that people should give a second thought to patronizing the Breakfast Klub. I think that if a business chooses to be political they should reap what they sow. The fact that it is a felony to deface a picture of 'Dear Leader' would be laughable if it wasn't so scary.

benjymanpritchett

1 Like

What I took away from the story is that I will not patronize The Breakfast Klub anymore. I think that if a business chooses to be political they should reap what they sow. The fact that it is a felony to deface a picture of 'Dear Leader' would be laughable if it wasn't so scary.

benjymanpritchett

Nowhere in my statement did I say it was okay to deface private property. I simply stated that I can choose where to spend my money in the future and that I think a felony charge is a little scary. I read the quote from the Texas state law and I don't think the mural in question meets the criteria. As for the rest of the assumptions: I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh. I couldn't care less what color the president is, I think he is a lying scumbag, my right. Good for them. And yes, I love their chicken and waffles.

PublicArtistAtLarge

3 Like

@benjymanpritchett The mural(s) are valued in excess of $1,500 which is the minimum for a felony offense.

Thenonymous

1 Like

@benjymanpritchett

Maybe you should read slowly, benjy. Aggregate value of offensese. Defacing it twice would mean that he did $3,000 worth of damage - twice what would be necessary to get a felony charge.

Why are you defending this vandal?

benjymanpritchett

@PublicArtistAtLarge @benjymanpritchett Geez, follow the comments. To be a felony it must meet one or more of those criteria. Start from the beginning again and read slowly.

PublicArtistAtLarge

2 Like

@benjymanpritchett @PublicArtistAtLarge The mural is on private property. All the more reason for the owner to have the right to put whatever they want on the wall. This was not paid for with tax dollars. What's your point?

benjymanpritchett

@PublicArtistAtLarge @benjymanpritchettIs the mural on a school? No. A place of worship or burial? No. A public monument or community center? No.

Anse

3 Like

@benjymanpritchett Maybe you could organize a boycott. You could make signs. That would show 'em!

Anse

2 Like

@benjymanpritchett @Anse Maybe you were under the mistaken impression that the Breakfast Klub gives a damn about your business.

benjymanpritchett

@Anse @benjymanpritchett A troll is a troll.

conebaby topcommenter

2 Like

@benjymanpritchett "I don't think it's okay to deface public property, but it is reaping what you sow." Say what?

conebaby topcommenter

3 Like

@benjymanpritchett Your snide remark says much about you. It was really not clear, in your original post, that the sowing and reaping was in regard to your business and not the vandalism. Thanks for clarifying--and especially for doing it in such a charming manner.

As for the felony charge, I guess if a person vandalizes a piece of private property, he should be prepared to reap what he has sown.

benjymanpritchett

@conebaby @benjymanpritchett Is the ability to have 2 concurrent thoughts that much of a strain? My attention from the story was given to the fact that Breakfast Klub funds the mural and as such I will end my business dealings with them; ie: reap what you sow. As for the defacing; the person should be charged, fined and maybe even jailed. A 'FELONY' charge seems scary.

H_e_x

2 Like

@benjymanpritchett Did you ever go there to begin with?

PublicArtistAtLarge

1 Like

@benjymanpritchett : for every one person that choooses to not patronize TBK because of this mural there are 100 more people happily willing to stand in line for good food and great service.

Thenonymous

@benjymanpritchett

Turn off the Rush Limbaugh and take a deep breath. I hate to break it to you, but it has nothing to do with the President. It's how the law works in Texas.

In Texas, criminal mischief can be charged anywhere from a misdemeanor to a felony, and multiple incidences are aggregated. So, had he only done it once, he'd probably be looking at less of a charge. It is also possible that the building being defaced was considered a "community center."

From the State of Texas Teen Website:

'It is a state jail felony to mark graffiti on a school, place of worship or burial, public monument or community center, if the damage is $20,000 or less.'

Are you saying that you're in favor of this gentleman's property being defaced?

Anse

2 Like

He's the first black president. Did you not think he would be memorialized in some way?

Thenonymous

Mr Kroetsch seems unapologetic, either that, or someone with a clever sense of humor has set up a fake linkedin account on his behalf.

His job title is listed as

"Michael Kroetsch

Manager at Affordable Painting Demolitions"

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/michael-kroetsch/37/27/125

Andrew Hernandez

And just FYI the Bush Statue has been defaced a number of times. You guys just fail to report it.

Andrew Hernandez

1 Like

Someone needs to deface that new mural. It's even worse then the last one.

MadMac topcommenter

Well, we need to check out your tastes for reference. What's your address?

The Pursuit of Happiness

It shouldn't be a felony because a felony ruins people's life's and this doesn't not merit that sort of punishment. Regardless of who the painting portrays. I don't think it should be a felony if was Bush or Reagan or the Pope or Ghandi or whoever.

Brandon Jones

If it was of Bush, then he would've been a hero. But oh no, not the almighty Obama. Fucking bullshit.

MadMac topcommenter

I sense you have strong--if inarticulate--feelings.

Kyle Jack

1 Like

The Pursuit of Happiness, it's a felony when the loss is over $1500. If that's how much he paid for the mural or if that is what it is determined to be worth, then I don't see why it shouldn't be a felony.

Jonathan Murphy

C'mon HP, your political colors are beaming through right now. This isn't a big deal..shit happens every day. HP should appreciate expressionism of all people..lol

Pamela Chupp

the George Bush memorial is maintained by the City of Houston is it not ? It is a bronze statesman sculpture of an American president (fitting) - this mural was commissioned by a private business and it actually looked like some guy pointing a gun (i live close by) - your conclusion seems far reaching

The Pursuit of Happiness

1 Like

Victimless crimes should not be felonies. Destruction of private property, maybe there's a victim there in the owner, but felony is ridiculous.

PublicArtistAtLarge

2 Like

@The Pursuit of Happiness :Victimless crimes??? How about the dozens of volunteers and the artists that take time from their busy schedules to paint the mural on private property?

benjymanpritchett

@PublicArtistAtLarge There is more than one oxymoron in that statement.

Anse

3 Like

@benjymanpritchett @PublicArtistAtLarge Stop being such a hater, dude. They're a very successful business who happens to be supporters of Obama. Is that really so unreasonable?