Acting as his own attorney, John Thomas Christiana has pleaded no contest to vandalism charges in Mono County.

Christiana also faces charges in Inyo County related to the fire that destroyed the Schulman Grove visitor center and other acts of vandalism at local trailheads. He was found incompetent to stand trial in Inyo County in April of 2009.

In Mono County, Christiana was charged with vandalism of the White Mountain Research Station at the Summit of White Mountain Peak. While found incompetent to stand trial in Inyo County, Christiana was found competent to stand trial in Mono County and chose to represent himself.

Mono District Attorney George Boothe reports that on Tuesday, Christiana entered a no contest plea to the felony vandalism charge. While Boothe plans to push for the maximum sentence of three years for the crime, he reports that the court has made a commitment to local jail time. Probation will give the judge a sentence recommendation which is set to be decided on March 23rd.