LOS ANGELES—A man accused of using a chainsaw to cut down 13 trees—primarily in downtown Los Angeles—was ordered May 8 to stand trial on nearly a dozen vandalism charges.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli reduced two of the 11 felony counts against Samuel Patrick Groft to misdemeanor charges, agreeing with defense attorney Julieta Flores’ argument that the prosecution had not proven that there was more than $400 in damage to the four trees involved in those two counts that were added to the case on May 7.
Groft said, “something about you’re arresting me on Earth Day” and told police, “I love trees. I love bark. I’m an arborist,” according to Los Angeles Police Department Detective Jose Hidalgo, who was among a team of officers who arrested the defendant April 22 at an encampment in the area of Custer Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, adjacent to the 101 Freeway and 110 Parkway, in downtown Los Angeles….