A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Thursday sentenced a graffiti artist to 13 days in jail and 45 days of graffiti removal for violating his probation, saying that his success as a tagger-turned-artist could help inspire young vandals to take their art into the studios.

Judge Marcelita Haynes sentenced Cristian Gheorghiu, also known as Smear, after he acknowledged he violated the terms of his probation for vandalism by posting photos of illegal graffiti on his website.

A graffiti artist already being sued by the Los Angeles city attorney was arrested Wednesday on an alleged probation violation a day after sheriff’s deputies searched his East Hollywood home and The Times published an article recounting his rise from concrete walls to chic galleries.

Cristian Gheorghiu, also known as Smear, was taken into custody around noon. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Vince Carter said Gheorghiu was arrested for a “probation violation” but would not provide specifics. He said the booking related to new information and “vandalism tools.” Gheorghiu is on felony probation for a 2007 vandalism conviction.

Authorities searched his home Tuesday as part of a probation check, officials said. The Times article that day described his transformation from tagger to sought-after artist. His work has appeared in art galleries from Long Beach to Romania.

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