Man who vandalized sign makes apology
Joe Pepitone stood in front of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada" sign Thursday garbed in black and looking like the typical tourists and residents who frequent the spot each day.
The 69-year-old was more of a standout two weeks ago, when he appeared before the sign wearing a Santa hat and a barrel held up by suspenders. A live news camera was rolling Dec. 18 when he splashed the popular landmark with red paint.
On Thursday he expressed remorse for the actions that led to him being handcuffed on a misdemeanor charge of property damage.
"I was very disappointed ... and incoherent ... and took my frustrations out on the most iconic landmark of the most greatest city of the world," Pepitone said. "I was not in the right state of mind due to circumstances beyond my control. I am asking for forgiveness from my family and friends, as well as my fellow citizens of Las Vegas and our wonderful country."
A rambling Pepitone blamed his actions on several factors. He was medicated, he was frustrated over recently losing his job as a butcher, he was embittered by his well-documented, 12-year-gripe with a local casino and gaming regulators.
Pepitone, a cousin of the former New York Yankee with the same name, in 1997 hit a jackpot at Arizona Charlie's -- $463,895 -- that was voided because casino officials said the machine had malfunctioned. He took his fight for the money to the state Supreme Court but lost.
"I wanted my family to get what was owed to us," he said.
Pepitone spoke on a litany of topics, including his resemblance to Grandpa Munster from "The Munsters," while streams of tourists passed him. One woman, Hayley Gutteridge, wore her wedding dress and had stopped at the sign before the ceremony. She was accompanied by her fiancé, Jon Ferry. Both are from Hampshire, England.
Gutteridge said she had mixed feelings about Pepitone's apology.
"Good for him for apologizing," she said. "Shame on him for doing it in the first place."
Pepitone said nobody put him up to the apology and that he's ready to accept the consequences of his actions.
"I'm the kind of guy, you do the crime, you pay the time," he said. "Jail is not good. Anybody listening, don't go to jail. I'm a butcher. I was expecting prime rib. But believe me, it's not. It's no funny thing."
Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
