Saratoga News D.A. believes Saratogan is long sought 'Hobbs' tagger By Michelle Alaimo Santa Clara County Sheriff Department deputies have arrested a Saratoga man they believe is responsible for more than 41 vandalism incidents in the Westside area. Matthew George Diez, 18, was arrested on a $100,000 warrant and charged with six counts of vandalism. He is in custody at the Santa Clara County main jail The misdemeanor charges include two counts of vandalism causing damage estimated at $400 and $5,000 and four counts of vandalism at under $400. All are punishable by jail time and/or a fine. According to Sheriff Lt. Cary Colla, those who've been tracking him nicknamed the vandal the HOBBS tagger because that's the name used on some items vandalized with pens and spray paint. Items included transit authority benches, fences, buildings and a high school, Colla said Diez is believed to have tagged numerous items in Saratoga, Cupertino and San Jose over the past nine months. Diez, who turned 18 in October, will be tried as an adult even though some of the incidents may have occurred while he was a minor, Colla said. Sheriff officials said they could not discuss whether Diez had any prior convictions because they can't discuss juvenile records. Deputy district attorney John Schon said that if convicted, Diez could face up to one year of jail time although Schon doubts that the court will give him more than a few months. He said he plans to ask for jail time and fines on at least three counts. Schon said the main purpose of the arrest and trial is to end the graffiti activities and collect damages. Diez's attorney, Christopher Taaffe, declined to give a statement regarding the case. The arrest came after an intensive ongoing investigation spearheaded by deputy Don Staats. Colla said Staats began by investigating 17 vandalism incidents to transit authority benches. Diez's pretrial hearing on Jan. 11 was continued until some time in February because he had just hired his lawyer, Schon said. Sheriff officials ask that anyone with additional information on the investigation call Deputy Staats at 867-9715. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 20, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.