Accused would-be MAG art thief faces new charge | Art

The persons have upped the stakes in their scenario in opposition to George Haag, the accused would-be art thief who is alleged to have tried out to steal a photograph from an Andy Warhol exhibit at the Memorial Artwork Gallery in January 2021.

Haag, 38, very last yr refused a plea deal from Monroe County prosecutors to shift his case to psychological well being court, which gives remedy for non-violent offenders residing with mental illness, as an different to trial and potential incarceration.

At the time, he stood accused of grand larceny in the 2nd degree, a felony that carries a greatest seven-year jail term, for allegedly making an attempt to acquire a portrait of Warhol by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe valued at $60,000 out of the museum.

Right after the plea offer fell aside, his case was presented to a grand jury, which tacked on an supplemental cost of 3rd-diploma burglary, a felony that also carries a potential seven several years in prison.

Similar: An accused would-be art thief has his day in court docket

Prosecutors reported during arraignment in January that the new charge was relevant to Haag evidently not paying to enter the museum the day of his alleged criminal offense. They sought to have him jailed pending the putting up of $5,000 bail.

Point out Supreme Courtroom Justice Alex Renzi turned down the bail application and scheduled Haag to return to courtroom on Feb. 23.

In an job interview with City past calendar year, Haag acknowledged taking away the Mapplethorpe portrait from the wall at the Magazine, but discussed that he set it down in an additional space of the show ahead of leaving the museum because he believed it would glance greater in other places.

David Andreatta is CITY’s editor. He can be arrived at at [email protected].