Robert Allen

Detroit Free Press

A woman accused of lying to investigators in a Detroit graffiti case faces three felony charges carrying 15-year prison sentences, according to a news release from Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's Office.

Gabriela June Gibson, 27, of Detroit, was accused in 2016 of vandalizing a commercial building at 1116 Townsend with graffiti such as spraying faces on it, according to city officials. But a lack of evidence caused the case to be dismissed. New charges were filed this month after further investigation.

Gibson was initially connected to the incident after police received photos from a concerned resident, showing a car's license plate as it fled the building with two suspects, according to the news release. She is accused of participating in the vandalism and driving the getaway car, which was found to be registered to Gibson's mother, according to the news release. Court records show the graffiti incident was Jan. 25, 2016 in the area of the West Village neighborhood on Detroit's east side.

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Gibson is accused of three perjury charges on allegations that she made false statements under oath at an investigative subpoena interview.

The evidence also led to charges against Nathan Koorhan, of Detroit, and Craig Kowalski, of Ira. Kowalski is charged with breaking and entering, and with malicious destruction of a vacant school, resulting in more than $20,000 worth of damage, a 10-year felony, according to the news release, which says Koorhan faces similar charges.

Detroit assistant corporation counsel Doug Baker said Koorhan and Kowalski are believed to have tagged doors and walls at the then-vacant Trombley Alternative High School on Hibbard near Jefferson on the city's east side, the same day the commercial building was vandalized about 10 blocks away.

Gibson faces no destruction-of-property charges. She was granted immunity when she agreed to testify regarding graffiti incidents, Baker said. All have court hearings scheduled for this week.

"The actions of these vandals and others like them will continue to be addressed, and those who decide to lie under oath will be prosecuted," Detroit Police Sgt. Rebecca McKay said in the news release. "This was nothing more than a feeble attempt to obstruct justice, and these vandals failed. These charges are only the beginning of more to come from what has been learned from Gibson's texts and other sources."

The release states that the three allegedly participated in tagging other buildings.

In the past two years of a graffiti-eradication effort, the city reports it's made dozens of arrests with jail sentences up to six months and $37,346 in restitution.

"During that time, more than 30,000 illegal tags also have been removed from buildings, bus shelters and electrical boxes by city General Services Department crews and building owners at the direction of the city," according to the release.

Gibson, who recently moved to Detroit from Perry, is the first to be charged with multiple perjury felonies, according to the news release.

An attorney representing Gibson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

NOTE: A previous version of this story indicated Gibson was previously accused of vandalizing the school. In fact, she was accused of vandalizing the commercial building at 1116 Townsend.

Contact Robert Allen on Twitter @rallenMI or rallen@freepress.com.