A 26-year-old man who was arrested after he was seen slashing tires on a delegate bus during the Republican National Convention last month in St. Paul pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree damage to property.

Joseph M. Robinson of Washington state was the first person charged with a felony for actions during the convention to plead guilty. He will be sentenced Dec. 12 by Ramsey County District Judge Salvador Rosas.

According to the charges, two police officers and two other people saw Robinson slashing the tires of a charter bus used by convention delegates as it was parked at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown St. Paul.

Robinson initially was charged as "Joseph Doe" after he refused to give his name to authorities. He was among the 18 adults and one juvenile charged with felonies in connection with the convention. More than 800 people were arrested in St. Paul and Minneapolis before and during the Sept. 1-4 convention.

PAT PHEIFER