Metro Transit Police have arrested a serial graffiti vandal on charges of felony property destruction for defacing Metrorail cars at West Falls Church Yard.
Jordan Reese McConeghy, 24, of Brooklyn, NY, was arrested April 15 by MTPD detectives following a yearlong investigation into multiple graffiti incidents where Metro railcars were defaced. McConeghy will face charges of intentional property damage exceeding $1,000, a class 6 felony in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as several lesser charges including trespassing.
"This arrest is the result of a year's worth of intense investigation and solid detective work," said Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik. "We hope this arrest sends a strong message to anyone who would consider defacing Metro property."
Metro has a policy of excluding from passenger service any railcar showing graffiti. As a result, defacing a Metrorail car deprives Metro customers of longer trains, in addition to repair costs that are borne by Metro customers and the region's taxpayers.
The current charges stem from a Feb. 12, incident in which two Metrorail cars (#3247 and #1046) were spray painted with graffiti within West Falls Church Yard. The graffiti included the tags "SMYL," which is McConeghy's personal "tag," as well as "EHC," which is used by his graffiti crew. The damage is estimated at approximately $5,400.
McConeghy was previously arrested by Metro Transit Police in 2014 in Maryland on charges of malicious property destruction and trespassing for defacing railcars at Shady Grove Yard and Glenmont Yard. In a plea deal, McConeghy agreed to pay Metro $6,832.73 in restitution.
If convicted on the current felony charge, McCONEGHY could face up to five years in prison and a fine up to $2,500, plus restitution.
McConeghy has prior non-Metro graffiti-related arrests in Georgia, Texas, California, Michigan and Virginia.