The vandal was a man by the name of John Perkyns—a mild-mannered apartment security guard with no apparent criminal record. Quiet and middle-aged, with thinning hair and a clean-cut look, Perkyns blended in with library patrons. He immediately cooperated with police and pleaded no contest to his crime, though he offered neither explanation nor apology. He was ordered to pay $9,600 in restitution and was banned from the library.