SOUTH PORTLAND — A Cumberland County grand jury has indicted William O’Brien for allegedly painting graffiti on the Interstate 295 sound barrier last year.

An indictment is a finding that enough evidence exists to prosecute, not a finding of guilt. The 25-year-old resident of Pine Point Road in Scarborough is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal mischief, a Class C offense.

O’Brien was issued a summons in April by Officer David Stailing of the South Portland Police Department after he confessed to spray-painting the tag “BRO” in large, black, bubble letters across the sound barrier panels, and to crafting at least three other graffiti marks in South Portland bearing the same insignia.

After receiving an anonymous tip, police executed a search warrant for O’Brien’s home, where Stailing said they found several drawings with the distinctive bubble tag “BRO” in O’Brien’s bedroom. 

According to court documents, damage costs exceeded $2,000. The South Portland Public Works Department has since painted over the graffiti.

O’Brien is expected to go to trial in September. 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: