An Occupy protester, who flatly denied being the vandal who smashed six windows and a door at a police building near Oakland City Hall, was sentenced Tuesday to six months in jail.

"It was not my intention to hammer you," Superior Court Judge Jon Rolefson said as he imposed the sentence on Cesar Aguirre, 24, of Elk Grove (Sacramento County).

Rolefson said he had "wrestled" with a sentence that would deter similar conduct, serve as appropriate punishment and "get your attention and make you appreciate that this is something you don't want to do again."

"I don't blame anyone here for whatever sentence I will receive," Aguirre said before being sentenced.

He was arrested in the early morning hours of Nov. 3 amid rioting in downtown Oakland following a peaceful demonstration.

A jury found him guilty in August of felony vandalism after a police officer testified that he saw Aguirre, dressed in black clothing and wearing goggles and a dust mask, smash the windows with a metal folding chair. Aguirre had glass shards on his sleeves when he was arrested, the jury was told.

Aguirre's attorney, John Kaman, said he believes the sentence was fair but that he intended to appeal. The judge said Aguirre could be freed on $40,000 bail pending the appeal.

Deputy District Attorney Carrie Skolnick said the sentence sends a strong message. "Oakland is already a city that in some ways is economically disadvantaged, and then to have people come from outside and trash the city, and then the taxpayers have to pick up the bill, (that) is unfair," Skolnick said.

The judge ordered Aguirre to pay the city $6,654 for the broken windows.