Miscreant who wrecked piano in downtown MC pleads guilty

MASON CITY – A Des Moines man who got liquored up and trashed a community piano in the Cultural Crescent has pled guilty.

Police said Sunday morning that at about 2:15 AM, an officer noticed a fairly common site – a drunk man in downtown Mason City – near Federal Avenue and State Street. The officer approached and questioned the man, and as he did so, an employee of a nearby bar approached the officer and informed that a piano outside the bar had been tipped over and damaged. The piano was one of several that local students had refurbished and painted as part of Tunes for the Town or “spontaneous art”.

With the help of a witness, it was determined that the intoxicated man the officer stopped was the person allegedly responsible for the damaged piano. He was identified as Coltin James Schupbach, age 21 of Des Moines. Schupbach was arrested for public intoxication and third degree criminal mischief. The piano was estimated to be worth $750 and was said to be a total loss. Later that same day morning, another piano (pictured) was placed in the same spot.

On August 13, Schupbach’s court-appointed public defender submitted a plea of guilty on Schupbach’s behalf. He had already submitted to a substance abuse assessment as part of the case. Records show no resolution to the charge of public intoxication, but typically, a guilty plea will include other charges, some of which could be dismissed.

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