Man Admits Tire-Slashing Spree In West Philadelphia
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A 28-year-old man today pleaded guilty to crimes that ruined a lot of people's mornings in West Philadelphia last January.
Defendant Harry Gaines has pleaded guilty to 168 counts of criminal mischief, conspiracy, and possession of an instrument of crime.
Gaines admitted he slashed tires -- a lot of tires -- as he walked with his half-sister during the early morning hours of January 7th (see related story).
And prosecutor Allison Pavero says some of their senseless crime spree was caught on video.
"Harry Gaines, along with Aleze Lewis, slashed the tires of 56 cars in West Philadelphia, on both Chancellor Street and Hazel Avenue. People got up to go to work that morning and found they couldn't because their vehicle tires were slashed, and a substantial financial loss has been suffered by these victims as a result of the defendants' acts," Pavero said.
Some cars had more than one tire slashed.
Gaines, now in custody, is scheduled to be sentenced in January. Lewis has pleaded not guilty; her attorney says she was there but not involved in the tire slashings. But the prosecutor says a witness saw Lewis in the act (see related story).
