While city officials are still in the dark as to why it happened, they at least received some measure of justice last week for the recent vandalism that occurred at Dowagiac City Hall.

Cass County Circuit Judge Michael Dodge sentenced Quentel Marquess Watson, 21, of Peoria, Illinois, to 180 days in a Cass County jail on two counts of destruction of attempted malicious destruction of property. Watson had previously appeared in court on Aug. 13, where he pleaded guilty to the charges.

Watson was arrested a little more than a week before his plea, on Aug. 5. On that day, the Illinois man approached City Hall, located on Front Street, smashing in the front windshield of one of the police cars parked there along with one of the glass entry doors to building with a hammer.

“[It] was completely unprovoked,” Dodge said. “You were walking down the street, no shirt on, with a hammer in the hand, and you decide to take it out on the police department.”

The resulting damage cost the city around $930 to repair, the judge said. Watson was ordered to pay that amount back in restitution in addition to his jail time.

Watson’s motivations for the attack remain a mystery to law enforcement. Even his defense attorney, James Miller, could not provide an explanation as to why his client committed the crime.

“We still don’t have an explanation as to why this happened, other than perhaps alcohol or illegal drug use,” Miller said.

Watson declined to the chance to speak on his own behalf when asked by the judge.

The Peoria resident has only one prior conviction on his record, also for destruction of property. Despite that, Dodge said that, due to the nature of the crime, it deserved a fitting punishment.

“I think that it deserves the maximum sentence permitted by the guidelines,” Dodge said.

Watson was given 60 days credit for time already served.

Also sentenced Friday:

• Joseph Anthony Donoho, 21, of Dowagiac, to one year in jail for preparation to commit arson.

• Justin Lee Fuller, 34, of Union, to six months in prison for possession of methamphetamine.

• Doris M. Bufford-Thomas, 63, of Southfield, Michigan, to 13 days in jail for obtaining a controlled substance through fraud.

• Michael James Seward, 20, to 120 jails in day for possession of cocaine.