SEGUIN -- A 21-year-old caught tagging local businesses is taking it upon himself to clean up his mess before the court dishes out a penalty of its own.
Seguin police said it took them about two weeks to catch the person spray painting businesses around town. Anthony Leal is now awaiting a court date and his punishment.
After his arrest, officers told Leal a little more about some of the businesses he damaged. They also told him he caused over $15,000 in damage.
For example, The Cranny gift store gives 100 percent of its profits to a local shelter. Leal said he didn't know that before he decided to tag the building.
“I didn’t know what they did here," he said. "I thought it was a thrift store, but they do a lot more for the community, for the women’s shelter. I wanted to come to just make it right.”
He showed up to the store and told them he was there to paint over the spray paint he marred the building with.
“He told me who he was and then at first it took me off guard,” said Wanda Dowdy, who runs The Cranny store.
She said he painted over his mess, and when he realized the paint didn’t match, he painted the whole entire garage door to make it all one color.
Wanda saw Anthony’s work and told him he should show it to the gallery next door. Leal went to talk with them and the Seguin Oakwood Art League.
Leal has a job working with mentally ill patients part time. He said in his off time he will be cleaning up the other businesses that he also hit.
