The city's most prolific graffiti artist is getting ready to put his tag on the document that could spell the end of his career.

Daniel Joseph Montano, 22, of Highland Park, spent this morning negotiating a plea to scores of criminal counts that accuse him of more than $700,000 in damage in more than 125 locations around Pittsburgh.

Mr. Montano -- known to both the graffiti community and police as MFOne -- sought to plead down the series of 18 felonies, 64 misdemeanors and two summary offenses that could, in theory, end in 221 1/2 years in jail and $493,100 in fines.

The deal hit a snag shortly before noon when defense attorney William Cercone Jr. told Judge Kevin Sasinoski that Mr. Montano had recently been released from an evaluation at Mayview state mental hospital.

"I have to be satisfied that he's not under any mental impairment," the judge said.

The case was adjourned until later this after noon to allow lawyers to round up paperwork that would address the question of Mr. Montano's mental competence to enter the plea.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.