A man has been sentenced to 4-9 years in prison for toppling the Christopher Columbus statue on Lenox Lane and breaking glass doors at two Lancaster County buildings in June 2021.

Francisco Rodriguez Jr., 34, plead guilty to three separate counts of institutional vandalism, one felony and two misdemeanors, and two counts of possessing an instrument of crime, both misdemeanors, for knocking down the statue and breaking front glass doors at the Lancaster County Courthouse and Lancaster Adult Probation buildings, totaling over $9,000 in damages.

Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker sentenced Rodriguez Jr. in Lancaster County Court on December 1 to 2-5 years on the felony vandalism with consecutive 1–2-year sentencings on both misdemeanor vandalisms. The two other charges will run concurrently.

He will be transferred to a State Correctional Institution as determined by the DOC.

Assistant District Attorney Christie Wilson prosecuted the case. ADA Kyle Linardo assisted in prosecution.

Lancaster Bureau of Police Officer Shawn Gunnet filed charges.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.