A Pullman man has received a maximum jail sentence for vandalizing vehicles in the College Hill area, causing significant financial damage.

Benjamin Rinehart, 45, was convicted of felony vandalism by a Whitman County Superior Court jury following a trial last month. Rinehart was apprehended by Pullman Police in January after he was recorded on surveillance footage slashing the tires of a vehicle parked on Spaulding Street. This incident marked the second time within a week that he targeted the same vehicle, prompting the owner to install a camera and purchase new tires.

The case involved four victims, all of whom had their tires damaged by Rinehart. Authorities suspect that he may have vandalized many more vehicles in the Spaulding Street vicinity during the previous winter. The motives behind Rinehart’s actions remain unclear, as he declined to provide an explanation when asked by Judge Roger Sandberg during sentencing.

On Friday, Judge Sandberg imposed a three-month jail sentence, referring to the acts of vandalism as senseless. Rinehart was also ordered to pay nearly $2,500 in restitution to the victims, placed on probation for one year, and required to undergo a mental health evaluation along with adhering to any recommended treatment. Additionally, the judge specified that Rinehart could not substitute any part of his jail term with community service, and he was taken into custody immediately following the hearing. The victims of Rinehart’s actions were neighbors residing in the same apartment complex.