Three men recently pleaded guilty to damaging a piece of art located in downtown Batavia.
The three men admitted their role in knocking over the "Self-Made Man" bronze sculpture this spring. A Kane County judge accepted their guilty pleas on Monday, the Daily Herald reports.
The men are:
- Theodore R. Bittner, 45, of Batavia
- Thomas E. Bittner, 44, of Batavia
- Steve L. Piron, 44, of Sandwich, IL
The 750-lb. sculpture was located at the southeast corner of River and State streets in downtown Batavia. The sculpture was found on the ground off its base early in the morning on April 24.
Each of the three men will pay the following fines and restitution, according to the Daily Herald's story:
- $4,900 for the city of Batavia
- $1,167 for police costs
- $300 in court fees and fines
The men initially received felony charges of Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property, but the charges were later reduced.
Cathy Cavins, the attorney representing the three men, subpoenaed MIC Inc. for records about the statue's installation, maintenance and any repairs completed since it was placed in Batavia 15 years ago.
Cavins's court filings from earlier this year suggested the materials and methods used to secure the statue to the base "may constitute evidence that may tend to negate the defendant's guilt."
Batavia Police announced on May 4 they had identified and secured arrest warrants for the three men, related to the vandalizing of the "Self-Made Man" sculpture.
Officials planned to ship the sculpture to Colorado for repairs. The sculpture's creator, Bobbie Carlyle, told Batavia Patch that the "Self-Made Man" was originally cast in Loveland, CO.
