Judge sentences teen vandal to paint job under the sun — using a toothbrush

A vandalizing teen was facing 10 days in jail, until a judge devised a memorable sentence: To paint railings on the courthouse steps — with a toothbrush.

Avery White learned his odd punishment during his July 11th court hearing in Painesville, Ohio where he faced Judge Michael Cicconetti for spray painting a railroad caboose.

As reported by WTRF, on a hot Friday, White was provided with water, sunscreen, and gloves and a mask to protect him from dust inhalation. Then, wearing a graffiti-print shirt, he spent several hours painstakingly applying color to the stair railings at the Painsville Municipal Courthouse.


"Somebody will think twice, maybe they're going to vandalize something or paint something else. The message is here. This could be you," said Dave Washlock, chief probation officer, per WOIO.

Washlock and a city maintenance worker oversaw White’s handiwork.

White lucked out by getting his case assigned to Cicconetti, who reportedly presides with a dash of humor. One time, he order a man to mow grass with a manual machine for carving vulgarities into a school yard. He also sentenced a man to passing out water-safety fliers for stealing a life preserver from the Lake Metroparks.

It sounds like White appreciates the judge’s leniency. At his hearing, he reportedly told Cicconetti, “I’m owning up to it and taking full responsibility for it.”

And after the job was done, White told WOIO, “I walked in there fully expecting to go to jail, sadly. But I was very relieved when I found out he was gonna do a creative sentencing option.”

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