PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Delaware man has been sentenced to five years probation for stealing the thumb off of an ancient Chinese terra cotta warrior while it was on display at the Franklin Institute.
Michael Rohana pleaded guilty in April to drunkenly snapping the thumb off of one of the warriors during a Christmas party at the museum in 2017.
His original trial in 2019 ended in a hung jury. The COVID-19 pandemic had postponed a retrial.
Under the April plea deal, Rohana admitted to a misdemeanor charge, which carried a maximum sentence of six months.
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In handing down the probation sentence, the judge noted that Rohana has been on pre-trial release for five years — an unusually long time — with no problems, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney K.T. Newton. But, Newton said, the judge also made it clear that he considered the crime to be very serious, noting that damaging a world heritage artifact had disgraced the U.S. in the eyes of not only China but the world.
Rohana will have to perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $5,000 fine as well as restitution in an amount that is still to be determined.
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China is seeking $25,000 in restitution. Lloyd’s of London, which insured the statues, is seeking $45,000. And, the Franklin Institute wants Rohana to pay its deductible.
A separate hearing is scheduled to determine how much Rohana will have to repay.