With Guilty Plea, Borf to Try the Art of Graffiti Cleanup

Once again, the judge didn't give any ground.

"Go to school," she told Tsombikos, "but you can't carry supplies to and from."

In interviews this year with The Washington Post, Tsombikos declined to say what led him to take on the Borf name but talked freely about his political metamorphosis into an anarchist.

Even some of the people who have devoted countless hours to eradicating his work from the streets acknowledge that Tsombikos has talent. They wonder what he will make of it.

"It's a sad commentary on our society that he will probably take his fame as a vandal and transform it into fame as an artist," said Phil Carney of Dupont Circle, who has scoured graffiti from his neighborhood for years and who came to court to learn the case's outcome.

"But there's no question he has talent and determination. Properly challenged, he could accomplish just about anything. Just let's hope it's less destructive."

After signing a routine promise to return to court and conferring with his attorney, Tsombikos emerged from the courtroom but did not answer questions.

Staff writer Yolanda Woodlee contributed to this report.