Vandalism, Graffiti Charges In Newport Nazi Propaganda Plastering

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A 22-year-old Orange County woman was charged with misdemeanors in the pasting of Nazi propaganda posters across area schools. The Orange County District Attorney's Office plans to take her to task to the "fullest extent of the law" for the act.

Grace Elisabeth Ziesmer was charged with one count of misdemeanor vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of graffiti, according to the OCDA's office.

If convicted of all charges, Ziesmer faces a maximum sentence of one year and six months in Orange County Jail.

Ziesmer is scheduled to appear at the Harbor Justice Center at 8:30 a.m. on June 6, 2019.

"On March 4, 2019, Ziesmer is accused of posting Nazi propaganda posters on city light poles near Fullerton College," a spokesperson for the OCDA said. She also was accused accused of posting Nazi propaganda posters on Newport Harbor High School’s property on March 11, 2019.

The posting of Nazi propaganda which included swastikas, SS mottos, and other neo-Nazi statements is a hate incident, according to OCDA Todd Spitzer.

“Hate does not belong here. It does not belong anywhere,” Spitzer said. “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting hate crimes and hate incidents to the fullest extent of the law. I am not going to tolerate hate in Orange County.”

Ziesmer was not charged with a hate crime enhancement due to a lack of sufficient evidence that her conduct was directed at a particular victim for being Jewish.

According to Spitzer's office, it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s conduct was directed at the schools because of their connection with the Jewish people or the Jewish religion, based on the evidence and interviews conducted in the case.

Deputy District Attorney Jake Jondle of the Special Prosecutions unit is prosecuting this case.

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