Mitchell George Head: Geraldton man to fight claims he’s a graffiti bandit leaving tags across Mid West city

A Geraldton man who police have accused of committing almost 30 graffiti offences across the city will go to trial in December after maintaining his plea of not guilty. Mitchell George Head reappeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Monday when police said they intended to call eight witnesses against him. Prosecutor Sgt Beau Jones said the 24-year-old was identified by social media posts as the person responsible for 29 graffiti tags across Geraldton. “Those tags have been found around various locations around the city, and police will call four witnesses that place him at the scene,” he said. He expected the trial would take about a day. Duty lawyer Karen Ward said Mr Head had received the police’s evidence against him and was ready to take it to trial. “He says he’s unsure if he’ll be represented at trial and at this stage will be calling no witnesses but himself,” she said. The matter was set down for trial on December 8 by Magistrate Chris Miocevich, who warned Mr Head if he was going to engage a lawyer, he should do so as soon as possible. Under the Graffiti Vandalism Act, the maximum penalty for each charge is a fine of $24,000 or two years imprisonment.