Chainsaw Arborist Receives Sentence for Damaging Trees in Downtown LA
Man Sentenced for Vandalizing Trees in Downtown Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES – Samuel Patrick Groft, 45, was sentenced to two years in county jail on Wednesday after pleading no contest to multiple vandalism charges involving the destruction of trees in downtown Los Angeles. This decision came despite opposition from the prosecution.
Groft was charged with nine felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of vandalism, stemming from incidents that resulted in approximately $350,000 in damages. His activities, carried out primarily in April, involved cutting down 13 trees with a chainsaw.
Evidence presented in court included surveillance footage capturing Groft engaging in the vandalism, as well as a receipt from Harbor Freight Tools for the purchase of the chainsaw found at his encampment. During his arrest, Groft reportedly told law enforcement, "I love trees. I love bark. I’m an arborist."
The vandalism incidents occurred over a brief period, with the first reports emerging between April 13 and 14 when three junipers valued at $10,000 each were damaged on West Temple Street. Other trees were subsequently found destroyed or cut in half on North Broadway, Eighth Street, and South Grand Avenue. LAPD detectives arrested Groft on April 22 at an encampment near the 101 Freeway.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman highlighted the environmental repercussions of the vandalism, stating, "What took years to grow only took minutes to destroy." He condemned Groft’s actions as "selfish and senseless," calling them detrimental to the ecosystem.
In response, City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado acknowledged the resilience of the community, mentioning local efforts to replace the trees at a ratio of two to one with the assistance of the LA Conservation Corps and North East Trees.
While Groft begins his incarceration, a restitution hearing is scheduled for April 15 to determine the financial compensation owed for the damage to city and private properties. Meanwhile, local conservation groups continue their initiative to restore the urban canopy by replanting trees in the affected areas.
