A 19-year-old man who pleaded guilty to painting graffiti on two highway signs last year was ordered yesterday to serve four weekends in jail and spend 200 hours helping to clean up graffiti.

Webster Agudong was also ordered by Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto to pay $5,211 for the cost of replacing the signs on the H-1 freeway near Waikele and another on Farrington Highway near Waipahu High School.

Agudong, a bakery worker, pleaded guilty this year to the two counts of second-degree criminal property damage. He asked for a chance to have the case dropped if he stays out of trouble.

But Sakamoto turned down the request and placed Agudong on five years; probation, ordering him to serve the jail time, perform 200 hours of community service and pay restitution.

Graffiti defacing highway signs, fences and other property has been a nagging problem plaguing O'ahu.

City Deputy Prosecutor Franklin Pacarro Jr. said the judge ordered Agudong to perform his community service with two groups: Taking Action Against Graffiti and the Windward Community Graffiti Paint Out.

He applauded the judge's decision as sending a "message" to those who damage property with graffiti. "Not only are you going to face jail time, but you're going to have to clean up the mess — maybe not your mess but other people's messes," he said.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.