REPORT: Men Plead Guilty In Batavia Sculpture Damage Case, Each To Pay Thousands
Three men in their 40s, two of whom are from Batavia, admit to knocking over the "Self-Made Man" sculpture located downtown. The 750-lb. sculpture was found toppled off its base April 24, Easter Sunday.
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Three men recently pleaded guilty to damaging a piece of art located in downtown Batavia.
The three men admitted their role in knocking over the "Self-Made Man" bronze sculpture this spring. A Kane County judge accepted their guilty pleas on Monday, the Daily Herald reports.
The men are:
- Theodore R. Bittner, 45, of Batavia
- Thomas E. Bittner, 44, of Batavia
- Steve L. Piron, 44, of Sandwich, IL
The 750-lb. sculpture was located at the southeast corner of River and State streets in downtown Batavia. The sculpture was found on the ground off its base early in the morning on April 24.
Each of the three men will pay the following fines and restitution, according to the Daily Herald's story:
- $4,900 for the city of Batavia
- $1,167 for police costs
- $300 in court fees and fines
The men initially received felony charges of Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property, but the charges were later reduced.
Cathy Cavins, the attorney representing the three men, subpoenaed MIC Inc. for records about the statue's installation, maintenance and any repairs completed since it was placed in Batavia 15 years ago.
Cavins's court filings from earlier this year suggested the materials and methods used to secure the statue to the base "may constitute evidence that may tend to negate the defendant's guilt."
Batavia Police announced on May 4 they had identified and secured arrest warrants for the three men, related to the vandalizing of the "Self-Made Man" sculpture.
Officials planned to ship the sculpture to Colorado for repairs. The sculpture's creator, Bobbie Carlyle, told Batavia Patch that the "Self-Made Man" was originally cast in Loveland, CO.
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Forrest Bittner Chambless
9:15 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Wow its good to get this behind us. I'm glad they didn't get charged with statutory rape! I think the Patch could do a MUCH better job of relaying the rest of the story, some real OBJECTIVE journalism - most specifically the evidence their attorney presented regarding the decrepit installation of the statue and the fact that school groups have been photographed over the years hanging on the thing. These guys probably did us all a favor and kept the statue from falling over on some young children, or honored yet infirmed elders.
Charles Menchaca
9:36 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Hi Forrest,
Thanks for your comment. I added information about what the Bittners and Piron's attorney subpoenaed regarding the installation and upkeep of the statue. The story above was published with a link to the Daily Herald's report, which has quotes and more information about the attorney's evidence.
Thanks,
Charles Menchaca
Editor, Batavia Patch
CrankyCub
10:14 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Give me a break Forrest. These men committed vandalism to a public statue and deserve any and all punishment they get for it. It's time for people who commit crimes to be held responsible for their actions. It doesn't matter. That statue wasn't in bad condition or not properly installed. Anyone who was down in that area knows that. These men decided it was funny to destroy something and got caught. Trying to blame the city and/or make it seem like they were doing a public service is really disgusting. Do the crime and pay the fine and stop whining or crying about it. They made that choice.
Jim J
3:22 pm on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Seems the defense would have us believe it really should be called "self-not-made-very-well man".
thefunkychicken
7:28 pm on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Cranky .. right on.
NP
1:43 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
When I read the headline on this report I was thinking it would be someone in their early 20's. When I opened it up, I could not believe these guys were in their 40's...really? They should be ashamed of theirselves!