One of Pittsburgh's best known and most prolific graffiti taggers admitted in court yesterday to vandalizing several dozen properties throughout the city. But before lawyers had hammered out the details of Daniel J. Montano's weeklong guilty plea, others in the street art community apparently stepped in to take his place.

Residents said the word "forgive" had been spray-painted this week on three buildings in Lawrenceville, one of several neighborhoods the defendant previously targeted. They said they learned the tags were meant to voice support for Mr. Montano.

Mr. Montano, a 22-year-old from Highland Park who was halfway through art school in San Francisco before his initial arrest in this case, was lodged at the Allegheny County Jail at the time the new crop of graffiti reportedly appeared.

Yesterday he claimed responsibility for 79 counts of vandalizing buildings and other property in the Strip District, Lawrenceville, Schenley Farms, East Liberty, Bloomfield and Shadyside, with spray painted words and designs. He often signed them with his nickname "MFONE."

The prosecutor couldn't pinpoint costs for each offense at Mr. Montano's initial plea date Monday, so at Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski's request, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Robinowitz and defense attorney William Cercone Jr. reviewed them at length prior to yesterday's hearing.

It took Mr. Robinowitz more than half an hour to explain the damage incurred at various residences and businesses, including Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., Whole Foods, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, the Salvation Army, Money Mart, a tennis facility and a real estate firm. The lawyers agreed he may face fines of up to $307,400 plus as much as $299,301.40 in restitution to victims. If the judge stacks the terms consecutively he could serve a maximum of 130 years in prison.

Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski accepted the plea as "knowing, intelligent and voluntary" and, at the prosecutor's request, revoked Mr. Montano's bond. The defendant, who wore handcuffs and shackles over a suit and tie, was taken to the county jail pending his sentencing on July 24.

His parents, who were present throughout the proceeding, said they did not wish to comment, they wanted their son to speak for himself -- although he wasn't given an opportunity to do so yesterday.

"Personally, this is a hell of an eye opener for him. He's been to jail, he's been to the forensic unit," said his lawyer, Mr. Cercone. He said his client "got involved with the wrong people" was "running amok" due to "some drug issues," but now "he understands that what he did was wrong, he's remorseful and he's sorry."

"He's an intelligent young man who just let his talents for art work get out of control. His behavior has injured and damaged a lot of people's property," he said.

Two anti-graffiti activists began heckling Mr. Cercone as he spoke to reporters after the plea.

One of them, Tony Ceoffe, director of Lawrenceville United saw the fresh "forgive" tag this week at 40th Street and Butler and two others a block away. He later said, "I can say with all the confidence in the world that [the new graffiti] is associated with Montano's plea. They're targeting Lawrenceville because our community group was vocal about it."

Jet Lafean, of Schenley Farms Neighborhood Watch, said he was sure this was not an isolated graffiti spree. He said, he'd tracked Mr. Montano's arrests for six years, since the young man appeared in juvenile court. He said, "It's not a joke. We have to instill in these kids that it's a serious crime and there are repercussions."

Elsewhere, Dale Middleman told the Post-Gazette he showed up at his fixture business in the Bluff yesterday to find fresh graffiti tags signed "FTC." At least two other businesses and one residence in the area had new graffiti on them. And he believes, based on news reports, that "it's in retaliation for this guy that's going to jail."

"What disturbs me is the city used to patrol this area pretty well. Now they don't," he said.

As for Mr. Montano, Heather Pesanti, who guest-curated the current exhibit the Mattress Factory's annex on Monterey Street that features room-sized installations by Daniel and his brother David, said, "I think Danny has great potential as an artist, and I hope when this is all over he will focus on developing this very promising creative talent of his in productive ways."

She added, in a comment she emphasized was based on personal opinion, "While I do not agree with defacing other people's property, there are far more serious crimes that merit the attention and money and manpower that is being dedicated to Danny and the eradication of graffiti in general."