'Super' St. Louis graffiti artist sentenced to 10 years in prison

ST. LOUIS • It has been a not-so-super two weeks for a prolific St. Louis graffiti artist sentenced here in state court Friday to 10 years in prison, after receiving nine years in federal prison last month for drug crimes.

St. Louis Circuit Judge James Sullivan on Friday sentenced David Cox, who is better known by his “Super” graffiti tag spray-painted on walls and buildings across the St. Louis region.

Cox, 34, of the 2600 block of South Compton Avenue, pleaded guilty to five counts of property damage, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

He was charged in April after he fled police and abandoned his truck that contained spray paint cans and a pistol. Authorities were watching him as part of a federal meth investigation.

Police said Cox hit the empty Jefferson Arms building, at 415 North Tucker Boulevard, on Christmas Eve, spray-painting the name “Super” on the side of the building on an upper floor. Police also suspected him of painting “Super” on the side of an apartment building in the 300 block of North Memorial Drive.

Last year, the Post-Dispatch reported about graffiti becoming a growing problem for businesses in the city, and in December 2015 that complaints had been on the rise.

Cox pleaded guilty in November to federal charges of possessing and distributing methamphetamine and was sentenced Feb. 28 to nine years in prison. The federal and state prison sentences will run concurrently.