John Tsombikos, the BORF graffiti vandal, was sentenced by Judge Lynn Leibovitz.  Tsombikos had previously pled guilty to one count of Felony Destruction of Property after being caught by Metropolitan Police Department PSA 305 officers spray painting a building owned by Howard University Hospital. 

Judge Leibovitz sentenced Tsombikos to 18 months incarceration, suspended as to all but 1 month, and placed Tsombikos on 3 years probation. Conditions of his probation include 200 hours of community service, 80 of which must be spent cleaning graffiti; $12,000 in restitution, the first $2,300 of which is to be paid to Howard University, and the remainder to be paid to the DC government; and $100 to be paid to DC Superior Court's victims' fund. 

Our neighbors on W Street, the residents of Capitol Manor, recently had the incredible story of their struggles and their ultimate successes told by The Washington Post.  Over three days in December The Washington Post shared the details of our neighbors’ efforts over the last four years.

The goal of the residents of Capitol Manor was a simple one – purchase their building and renovate it to keep it from being sold and developed by a private developer – to create a home for each resident to not only live in, but to call their own.

Homes jam-packed with glittering gifts. Stores, malls, and downtown streets teeming with unsuspecting shoppers. People rushing around, stressed out and careless, looking for last-minute gifts, trying to get everything done. It's enough to make a crook giddy with holiday joy.

On Monday, December 13, 2005, John Tsombikos, the 18-year-old from Great Falls, VA, known to many in our neighborhood as "Borf", plead guilty in D.C. Superior Court.   Tsombikos plead guilty to one count of felony destruction of property, the charge carries a maximum prison term of 10 years and a fine up to $5,000.