Amelia Vanderhorst was ordered to pay compensation and perform community service after pleading guilty to defacing a sculpture known as the Blue Blob.
A 20-year-old woman, Amelia Vanderhorst, has been convicted on a graffiti charge in Mount Gambier Magistrates Court for sticking googly eyes on a public sculpture in South Australia.
Vanderhorst pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay A$2,000 in compensation and complete 60 hours of community service as part of her sentence.
The incident occurred last September when Vanderhorst was under the influence of MDMA and three liters of vodka, according to statements from her lawyer.
Details of the Offense and Charges
Originally charged with property damage, the charge was amended to graffiti following negotiations with prosecutors, as confirmed by her lawyer Michael Hill.
Since the event, Vanderhorst has taken steps to address her behavior, including reducing substance use and stabilizing her personal life, Hill stated.
The sculpture, named Cast in Blue and nicknamed the Blue Blob, was unveiled last July at a cost of A$136,000. It represents a mythical megafauna inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves.
Local Mayor Lynette Martin described the act as wilful damage to a valued public artwork, noting that removing the stickers would cause further costly damage to the piece.
Vanderhorst initially launched a crowdfunding campaign to hire a lawyer, citing her youth and unemployment, but she later canceled it and returned the funds, according to reports from her lawyer.
