photo by: Ryan Waggoner

The "Native Hosts" series by Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds is KU's Common Work of Art, pictured on display outside the Spencer Museum of Art.

A Lawrence man was arrested last week on a warrant in connection with damage to a Native American art exhibit at the University of Kansas.

Owen Patrick McAuliffe, 19, is charged in Douglas County District Court with one felony count of criminal damage to the “Native Hosts” exhibit by Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds at the Spencer Museum of Art on Sept. 4, 2021, according to charging documents. He was arrested Nov. 8 on a bench warrant that was issued after the court was unable to serve him a summons in June, according to court records.

photo by: KU Police

KU police released this image of suspects in the art vandalism at the Spencer Museum of Art.

McAuliffe was originally charged in January but failed to appear at his first court hearing. As previously reported by the Journal-World, two men were identified by an anonymous tip soon after the incident in which four out of five panels of the art installation were damaged, Deputy Chief James Druen with KU Police said last October. It isn’t clear in court records whether the second man has been charged.

Two other men, Samuel C. McKnight and John W. Wichlenski, both 23, were charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing the fifth panel of the artwork on or about Sept. 29, 2021, according to charging documents. Court records indicate that Wichlenski was granted diversion in July and McKnight was granted diversion in August.

A diversion is a process whereby someone accused of a crime is “diverted” from the usual legal procedures and instead completes the terms of an agreement, which may include some sort of rehabilitation program or fine. If the program is successfully completed, the criminal charges could be dropped.

McAuliffe was released on a $1,500 own-recognizance bond shortly after his arrest. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 7 for a status update.