Dana Point Man Who Drew Swastika On Latina Mural Sentenced

COSTA MESA, CA — A Dana Point man pleaded guilty Friday for vandalizing a landmark mural in Costa Mesa with white supremacist messages, court records show.

28-year-old Daniel Alec Hotte pleaded guilty to felony vandalism with a sentencing enhancement for a hate crime. He was sentenced to six months in jail, and OC Superior Court Judge Greg Jones additionally gave Hotte credit for 90 days for finishing a drug-treatment program.

He was placed on two years of formal probation and was also ordered to do 10 hours of community service.

Officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Killybrooke Lane at about 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2022, in response to a vandalism report, according to a previous Patch report.

“When officers arrived, they found that the Poderosas mural, a local landmark that commemorates Latina heritage, was vandalized with white supremacy language,” Fyad said in a statement.

“The mural is well known in the community and spans over 70 feet of a block wall and honors immigrant Latina women,” Fyad said.

Fyad said the mural was created in October 2020 by an all-women crew that was led by artist Alicia Rojas.

“Individuals in the area observed the suspect vandalizing the Poderosas mural by spray-painting a hate crime message on the mural,” Fyad said. “Witnesses reported the crime and also provided video of the incident to CMPD. During the investigation, Daniel Alec Hotte ... was identified as the vandalism suspect.”

Authorities began looking for Hotte, but could not find him, Fyad said.

“Investigators then learned Hotte had a pending court date on Monday... (and) Hotte was located at the Harbor Justice Center and arrested,” Fyad said.

Hotte spray-painted “white power” on the mural as well as the name of a white supremacist gang, prosecutors said.