Miami

South Florida Artist Reaches Plea Agreement in Ai Weiwei Vase Smashing

Maximo Caminero will plead guilty to the February incident.

A South Florida artist accused of smashing a vase that was part of a museum exhibit by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has entered a plea agreement and released a letter of apology.

Maximo Caminero will plead guilty to criminal mischief over $1,000, a felony charge.

While Caminero originally pleaded not guilty to the criminal mischief charge, he had previously apologized for smashing the vase in February and told police it was to protest lack of support for local artists.

The vase was one of 16 in a Perez Art Museum Miami installation. Police had put its value at $1 million, but Ai said in an interview he thought that was an exaggeration.

In Caminero's formal apology letter, he says in part:

"I was wrong. I think about what I did every day and find it hard to live with what I did because it still haunts me. My deep convictions toward others' rights, while perhaps not reflected through my act, make me constantly aware of my guilt and shame."

In his letter he also asks the court to give him the chance to redeem himself "through work in the community as a way to make amends for my actions."

Read the full plea agreement and apology letter below.

Caminero Plea Agreement and Letter

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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