On Monday, Wright pleaded guilty to two counts of vandalism, one a fifth-degree felony and the other a fourth-degree felony, in Butler County Common Pleas Court. The remaining charges were dismissed.
Judge Michael Oster set sentencing for Dec. 21. Wright faces a maximum of 30 months in prison.
He entered Noonan’s at about 4:35 p.m. on Sept. 13 and attempted to steal a bottle of liquor, according to Hamilton police. Wright was told to put the down bottle and leave, but he went outside and broke off the leg of a statue of Jack Daniels and returned screaming and threatening employees, said owner Tom Noonan.
Wright kicked the store door and ran. He was spotted a short time later in a CVS parking lot and was eventually apprehended by officers, but not before he put a dent in a police cruiser after jumping on it, police said. An officer also received a hand and leg injury, according to the police report.
Damage estimated to the store’s inventory is about $10,000, with total damage estimated at $15,300, including to the door, statue leg and police cruiser, according to the police report.
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