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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Artist Charged With Trespassing in ‘Hollyweed’ Sign Prank | Artist Charged With Trespassing in ‘Hollyweed’ Sign Prank |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who admitted changing the Hollywood sign to “Hollyweed” has turned himself in to the authorities. | A man who admitted changing the Hollywood sign to “Hollyweed” has turned himself in to the authorities. |
| Zachary Cole Fernandez, a 30-year-old artist, surrendered on Monday with his lawyer at his side, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was booked on a misdemeanor trespassing charge and released on bail. | Zachary Cole Fernandez, a 30-year-old artist, surrendered on Monday with his lawyer at his side, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was booked on a misdemeanor trespassing charge and released on bail. |
| The sign was changed about 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, when two O’s were partly obscured by sheets and turned into E’s. It remained that way throughout the morning before the sign was restored. | |
| In interviews with reporters, Mr. Fernandez said he considered the results more of an art installation than a prank. | In interviews with reporters, Mr. Fernandez said he considered the results more of an art installation than a prank. |
| “It was something to smile and laugh out loud about,” he told BuzzFeed News. “Just lift their spirits and let them live because 2016 was a crazy year, dude.” | “It was something to smile and laugh out loud about,” he told BuzzFeed News. “Just lift their spirits and let them live because 2016 was a crazy year, dude.” |
| But David Ryu, a Los Angeles councilman, remained unamused. | But David Ryu, a Los Angeles councilman, remained unamused. |
| “Pranks of this nature deplete the resources of our valuable public safety personnel, in both responding to the prank and in responding to the increased crowds and copycat attempts that these incidents generate,” he said in a statement on Monday. | “Pranks of this nature deplete the resources of our valuable public safety personnel, in both responding to the prank and in responding to the increased crowds and copycat attempts that these incidents generate,” he said in a statement on Monday. |
| “My office has urged the city attorney and L.A.P.D. to investigate and prosecute this case, as well as all attempts to trespass near, alter, or vandalize the sign.” | |
| Mr. Fernandez is expected to appear in court on Feb. 15. He said he had been inspired by a similar alteration in 1976, and that he had used clamps and sheets so as not to damage the sign. | Mr. Fernandez is expected to appear in court on Feb. 15. He said he had been inspired by a similar alteration in 1976, and that he had used clamps and sheets so as not to damage the sign. |
| “It’s about being and staying youthful and living in the purest form,” he told Vice News, which said he was helped by a partner. “I think this project really allowed me to express that.” | “It’s about being and staying youthful and living in the purest form,” he told Vice News, which said he was helped by a partner. “I think this project really allowed me to express that.” |