A 30-year-old artist turned himself into Los Angeles police Monday and was charged with changing the famous Hollywood sign to read "HOLLYWeeD" on New Year's Day.
The Associated Press reported Zachary Cole Fernandez was arrested for his prank. Police charged him with suspicion of misdemeanor trespassing.
Security cameras captured Fernandez in the act, showing him wearing all black in the early hours of Jan. 1 while he altered the iconic sign that has been in place since 1923.
Fernandez admitted to committing the illegal act in an interview with Vice Magazine published Jan. 4, saying he altered the sign with the help of his creative partner and former wife Sarah Fern.
"It took me two hours; it's exhausting!" Fernandez told Vice. "Your adrenaline is pumping, and then you just crash so hard when it bottoms out. We collaborated before, packed everything, trying to keep it simple and easy. I'm not about 'vandalizing' things. I saw the term tossed around quite a bit in the news today."
Fernandez was released on his own recognizance and received a court date of Feb. 15.
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