Court commissioner: father and son didn't deface a "historic landmark"

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A New Orleans Criminal District Court commissioner ruled there was no probable cause for two men caught spray-painting the base of the removed P.G.T. Beauregard monument to be arrested Wednesday on counts of defacing a historic landmark, but he said they can face the lesser offense of simple criminal damage to property.

Magistrate Court Commissioner Robert Blackburn reasoned that there was no longer a historic landmark on the pedestal in question, which he described as now "just a pile of bricks." 

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They were initially booked on defacing a historic landmark, an offense that can bring two years in prison as well as community service. 

But Blackburn ruled there was probable cause for police to book the Kimbles only on the lesser violation, which can call for up to six months in prison.

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