2016 BLM mural drawn by local artist resulted in no jail time, suspended fine

Ethan Saint-Val and some of the graffiti vandalism he is accused of doing. (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - The summer-long spate of graffiti vandalism in Rochester was the first to gain notoriety since a well-respected Rochester artist drew a Black Lives Matter mural on a Route 16 overpass six years ago.

On Monday Ethan Saint-Val, 19, turned himself in at the Rochester Police Station. He is charged with a Class B felony that carries a three and a half to seven year sentence in a New Hampshire prison.
Rochester artist Beth Wittenberg drew the BLM mural on the overpass to start a conversation about racism, she said at the time of her arrest.
Police first discovered the mural on July 16, 2016. They ultimately charged Wittenberg with a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, but the charge was reduced to a violation when she pleaded guilty in October 2016. Wittenberg also paid $429 in restitution toward the cleanup of the overpass, which is owned by the state of New Hampshire. She was also fined $1,000, all suspended after a year on good behavior.
Rochester Police arrested Saint-Val following a two-month investigation of more than 30 cases of graffiti vandalism throughout the downtown this summer.
Saint-Val is accused of causing the graffiti, which is expected to cost several thousands dollars to clean up, police say.
Saint-Val was released on personal recognizance bail pending a court date on Nov. 17 at Strafford Superior Court.
During the investigation police also identified some juveniles that were involved with causing the graffiti as well; those cases will be handled within the juvenile justice system.
Wittenberg said today she would have no comment for this story.