On Avalon Street in Echo Park, Victoria Villicano is known as a devoted mother who is often seen behind the wheel of her SUV, driving her two teenage sons to stores and sporting events.
But Los Angeles Police Department detectives say the 42-year-old woman also drove a five-member tagging crew, including her two children, around Silver Lake and Echo Park, stopping long enough for the group to jump out and vandalize.
Authorities believe the crew is responsible for spray-painting about 100 sites along Sunset Boulevard, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Their alleged reign came to an end last week when police received a call about some teens tagging a 7-Eleven store in Silver Lake.
Undercover vandalism detectives said they found one of Villicano's sons -- with fresh paint on his hands -- near a wall, dumping clothing and paint cans into a trashcan. Police found the other alleged taggers waiting with Villicano in her SUV.
"This had to be a first," said one of the detectives, who asked that his name not be used because of the nature of his work.
But a relative said the allegations do not square with the woman he knows.
Ray Bermudez, Villicano's stepfather, said she would often leave the house with her sons, but it was to go shopping or play sports.
"She goes shopping, she comes back and it's normal," said Bermudez, 60, who shares a small ramshackle house with Villicano and her two sons, ages 15 and 19. "She's a good mom. She's old enough to know better."
Villicano and her 19-year-old son, David Ramirez, were scheduled to be appear today in Los Angeles County Superior Court on five counts of felony vandalism of more than $400. Four juveniles ranging in age from 14 to 16, including Villicano's 15-year-old son, are also being held.
This was not Villicano's first arrest. She pleaded no contest in 2002 to felony possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years' probation. In January, she was charged with one felony count of possession or purchase of a cocaine base for sale. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year in jail with credit for nearly three months behind bars. She was again placed on probation.
Because of the prior arrests, she is being held without bail. Ramirez is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
In Echo Park -- where graffiti has been a major problem --some residents said they were disturbed by the arrest.
