Jeff "The Snowman" Monson, 37, of Olympia, was charged because of photos published in the Dec. 29 edition of ESPN The Magazine that show him spray-painting an anarchist symbol on the Capitol.
Police had sought the person responsible for spray-painting columns on the north side of the Capitol on Nov. 26, The Olympian reported. The vandalism included an anarchy symbol, a peace symbol and the words "no poverty" and "no war."
Police recognized Monson in footage captured by a surveillance camera, but the break didn't come until ESPN ran its article on the fighter, court papers show.
Monson told The Olympian in a telephone interview that he took responsibility for the graffiti, which he said was a protest against the Iraq war and economic inequality.
Every great movement in the U.S., Monson said, "has been the result of people standing up and breaking the law, refusing to stand at the back of the bus, refusing to stand aside when the government asks you to get off their property.
"At some point you have to stand up," he said.
The graffiti in November cost $19,000 to clean up. An article on ESPN.com said Monson did not give the photographer advance warning before pulling out the spray can.
A warrant was issued Wednesday in Thurston County Superior Court. If convicted, Monson could face a maximum 10 years in prison.
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Information from: The Olympian, http://www.theolympian.com
