Liam Quigley, 28, faces charges of vandalism and auto theft. Quigley was ordered to stay away from the North Park Observatory and The Friendly.
SAN DIEGO – The person accused of taking a backhoe for a ride in North Park last month will stand trial after appearing before a judge Tuesday.
Liam Quigley, 28, faces felony charges of auto theft and vandalism. San Diego County residents shared a video of Quigley’s alleged July 26 ride on social media.
During Tuesday’s preliminary hearing, Quigley’s public defender indicated that his client uses the pronouns “she” and “she” despite previous coverage identifying Quigley as male. Quigley’s attorney also told the judge that he is currently changing his name to “Scooter Frank Leigh” and asked that the record reflect the name change.
Quigley also indicated through his public defender that he did not want his face pixelated on camera. The judge accepted this request.
Prosecutors allege Quigley stole the backhoe from a construction site near University Avenue and Utah Street early in the morning before causing extensive damage while driving through the neighborhood. According to authorities, the ride caused more than $50,000 in destruction, including damage to the North Park Observatory sign and planter boxes.
Prosecutors called at least three witnesses, including a San Diego police officer, a San Diego police detective and a manager of the North Park Observatory.
Officer Sebastian Gamboa testified that when he arrived at the scene, Quigley was removing her clothes and made statements about targeting the North Park Observatory, accusing him of being transphobic, although no evidence was presented that this was true. He said he also talked about protesting the war in Palestine.
Quigley is due back in court on August 25. She was ordered to stay away from the North Park Observatory and The Friendly restaurant, and its employees.
