A 21-year-old Rapid City man was sentenced to five years in prison Monday for spray painting graffiti on two businesses –- one the new Scheels Sports store at Rushmore Crossing.

As part of his sentence, Stephen Boyd was ordered to pay $2,483.41 in restitution to Scheels and $2,800 in restitution to Dennis Supply Company.

“This was a deliberate act of vandalism,” deputy Pennington County State’s Attorney Gina Nelson told 7th Circuit Court Judge Janine Kern before Boyd’s sentencing for intentional damage to private property, a Class 4 felony.

Boyd was arrested in May after his fingerprints were found on a can of spray paint left behind Scheels, Nelson said.

After his arrest, Boyd also admitted painting graffiti on the Shopko building and others, Nelson said.

Boyd’s attorney Bradly Borge said his client admitted it was a “stupid act.”

Borge said Boyd was under the influence of alcohol and may have brain damage from inhaling dusting compound. Borge asked the judge to order a mental health evaluation to assist Boyd in making the right decisions.

Boyd is serving a prison sentence for a parole violation stemming from an earlier felony charge.

“You have a serious drug problem,” Kern told Boyd, advising him not to waste his time in prison, but to use that time to overcome his addiction and set a new course for himself.

In addition to the $5,283.41 in restitution, Kern ordered Boyd to pay court costs and attorney’s fees, along with writing a letter of apology to Scheels.

Such acts harm the entire community, Kern said.

“To deface a new building, in a new mall, breaks down the quality of life for the community,” Kern said.

Another man, Landin Yazzie, 19, was also accused of the vandalism with Boyd.

Yazzie pleaded guilty in June to the vandalism charge and a third-degree burglary charge.

He was placed on 10 years’ probation and given a 180-day jail sentence.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com.