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DTLA tree chopper sentenced
Samuel Patrick Groft, 45, pleaded no contest to nine felony counts of vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of vandalism over the prosecution's objection after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Yvette Verastegui offered the two-year term, which will be served in county jail, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
LOS ANGELES - A man who authorities said used a chainsaw to decimate 13 trees across downtown Los Angeles pleaded no contest to vandalism charges Wednesday and was immediately sentenced to two years behind bars.
What we know:
Samuel Patrick Groft, 45, entered the plea over prosecutors' objections following a sentencing offer from the court.
Groft pleaded no contest to nine felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of vandalism.
The damage, estimated at nearly $350,000, occurred over a one-week span in April.
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Los Angeles Police Department detectives linked Groft to the crimes through surveillance video showing a suspect in black gloves felling trees in broad daylight.
Investigators also recovered a chainsaw spray-painted black at Groft’s encampment and found a receipt from Harbor Freight Tools that matched his name.
During his arrest, Groft reportedly told officers, "I love trees. I love bark. I'm an arborist."
Samuel Patrick Groft / LAPD
Timeline:
- April 13–14: The first trees are reported vandalized, including three junipers valued at $10,000 each on West Temple Street.
- April 17–18: Additional trees are cut in half or destroyed on North Broadway and Eighth Street.
- April 19: Officers find three more trees cut down and lying in the street on South Grand Avenue.
- April 22: LAPD detectives arrest Groft at an encampment near the 101 Freeway.
- May (Previous Year): Groft is ordered to stand trial after a preliminary hearing.
- Wednesday: Groft is sentenced to two years in jail.
- April 15: A restitution hearing is scheduled to determine final payment for damages.
What they're saying:
District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized the environmental impact, stating, "What took years to grow only took minutes to destroy."
He described the vandalism as "selfish and senseless acts that strip away a vital piece of our ecosystem."
Meanwhile, City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado noted the community’s resilience, saying residents are "replacing the trees two to one" with help from the LA Conservation Corps and North East Trees.
What's next:
While Groft begins his two-year sentence in county jail, the legal process will conclude with a restitution hearing on April 15.
This hearing will finalize the financial compensation Groft owes for the $350,000 in damages to city and private property.
Local conservation groups will continue the replanting efforts to restore the downtown canopy.
The Source: This report is based on official court testimony from Los Angeles Police Department detectives and city officials, along with formal statements and sentencing records provided by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.