SANTA ANA — A former Orange Coast College student charged with vandalizing campus security vehicles and violating protective orders to stay away from the school faces up to a year in jail following a plea bargain last week, his attorney said Monday.
Robert Bouton McDougal of Costa Mesa pleaded guilty to a single felony count of vandalism and eight misdemeanors on Thursday, according to court records. The felony will be reduced to a misdemeanor at sentencing, his attorney, John Christl, said.
McDougal admitted two counts of disobeying a court order, two counts of resisting arrest, and single counts each of remaining on campus without consent, vandalism and unlawfully providing false information to a police officer, all misdemeanors.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Kazuharu Makino put a “one-year lid” on his sentence, meaning the punishment could not exceed a year behind bars, Christl said. McDougal is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 30 for the crimes at the college in Costa Mesa.
Christl previously said his client struggles with a variety of mental health issues and was poorly handled by university officials as the 22-year-old sought to re-take a chemistry test.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office alleged last year when he was charged that he directed racial slurs at campus security personnel and vandalized security cars with obscenities, a racial slur and a swastika: in addition to slashing tires.
Sign up for our breaking news email newsletter: When major local news happens, you will be the first to know. Subscribe here.
McDougal was not charged with a hate crime at the time because prosecutors did not believe they had enough evidence to support that allegation.
McDougal’s trouble started after he took a chemistry test and received a B grade, according to Christl.
The student was getting straight A’s in chemistry at the time, but was taking an exam that required a calculator for two of the 10 questions, Christl explained. He didn’t have his calculator with him and he was too afraid to ask for one, so he failed to get the A for missing the two questions, the attorney said.
McDougal “obsessed” over the exam and wanted to re-take it, according to Christl.
The teacher agreed to let McDougal re-take the exam with a calculator after class, but he showed up too early and walked into the middle of class, according to Christl. He said his client was told to wait in the hallway, where he paced back and forth.
“Apparently, the chemistry teacher didn’t like that, so she alerted the school’s director of mental health, who a day before told Robert he was not in trouble,” Christl said last year.
The director of mental health, accompanied by two security guards, went to the classroom, Christl said.
“And just when the bell was about ready to ring and the class was ready to get out, Robert runs into the classroom, and with the security guards chasing him, he’s running around the classroom saying, `I have my calculator,”‘ Christl said.
Source: OC Register
Former Orange Coast College student pleads guilty to vandalism in case involving swastika, racial slurs
More from Crime + Public SafetyMore posts in Crime + Public Safety »
- Triple-digit heat hitting some Southern California communities
- Garden Grove man, who served time for terrorism, now accused of drug trafficking
- Woman charged with murder after pursuit that ended with fatal crash in Dana Point
- Southern California heat to stick around this week, but a cool-off is coming
- 15-year-old fatally stabbed in Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo woman arrested
More from higher educationMore posts in higher education »
- Students find UC admission offers can be harder and harder to snag
- Probation for California admissions scandal parents who aided FBI
- Will California make up for UC Riverside being less popular with out-of-state students?
- UC Hastings law school, tribal leaders discuss reparations, changing its name
- Reparations could include tuition, housing grants, California task force says
More from Local NewsMore posts in Local News »
- Sand replenishment to Newport Beach could happen by late 2024, officials announce
- Candidate filing extended in several local council, school board races
- LA, Long Beach ports hail supply chain progress — but keep watch on rail cargo slowdowns
- What’s new for Orange County students as school resumes
- Alleged hit-and-run driver turns herself in after man killed in Laguna Beach crosswalk
More from mental healthMore posts in mental health »
- 988 mental health hotline now available nationwide
- A general fights to destigmatize mental health issues: ‘There’s a shame if you show weakness’
- Newsom proposes forcing some homeless people into treatment
- Police reform: In Huntington Beach, non-criminal mental emergencies go to Be Well OC
- Grieving Chino Hills father seeks answers to daughter’s death after mental break, arrest
More from NewsMore posts in News »
- Orange County hiring pace doubles, still 25,000 jobs short of full recovery
- Original Stonefire Grill employee sues for age discrimination
- Dodger’s Freddie Freeman pledges $500,000 to build clubhouse for El Modena High
- Looking for an apartment? That will be $400 in application fees, please
- If you park in front of your own driveway, you could get a ticket
More from Top Stories OCRMore posts in Top Stories OCR »
- Orange County hiring pace doubles, still 25,000 jobs short of full recovery
- Dodger’s Freddie Freeman pledges $500,000 to build clubhouse for El Modena High
- Looking for an apartment? That will be $400 in application fees, please
- If you park in front of your own driveway, you could get a ticket
- Vanessa Bryant to testify in trial over photos of crash that killed Kobe Bryant
Be First to Comment