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At around 4:25 A.M. on Mischief Night, police in Henderson were called out to a residence after receiving reports of vandalism. Once authorities arrived, they discovered a distraught homeowner, Justin Phelps, surrounded by defaced election signs, Halloween decorations, and markings all over his front door.
The resident told authorities that he has lived in the area for over ten years. He also said that prior to this incident, he had always felt the Inspirada community was the best neighborhood for raising children.
Investigators discovered that the homeowner’s Kamala Harris election sign was badly damaged. It was marked with the N-word. The resident’s Halloween skeleton decoration was also defaced with Nazi swastikas. The decoration also had vulgar graffiti meant to represent male genitalia. Profanity was also laced throughout the sign and other decorations. Investigators also discovered similar markings all over the homeowner’s front door.
The Henderson Police Department believes that this crime was politically motivated, so they won’t be charging the suspect with a hate crime. Despite the language and symbols, the police also don’t believe the crime was racially motivated.
Phelps, who self-identifies as white, told journalists that he believes the guilty party may have been trying to make him take down his political signs entirely by embarrassing him.
Investigators reviewed images from Phelps’ doorbell camera and discovered an adult male dressed in a hoodie and ski mask committing the crime. Detectives also noted that the suspect already had all the supplies he needed to commit the vandalism, so there’s a great chance the whole thing was premeditated.
The homeowner said that around 300 trick-or-treaters showed up at his home the night after the vandalism, so it was difficult to remove the graffiti and markings before others saw it.
Despite all the tension surrounding elections, damaging someone else’s property over their political beliefs is always a crime.
In Nevada, vandalism is considered the act of intentionally damaging or destroying someone else’s property without their consent. This type of criminal offense ranges in severity based on the value of the damage that was destroyed.
When the property was worth less than $25, like in the case of a Harris poster, the offender is usually required to pay a $500 fine. When the property is worth $25-$250, like the door in the case above, the offense is considered a misdemeanor crime. That means a conviction could result in up to six months in jail. The offender might also need to pay fines of up to $1,000. When the property is worth more than $5,000, the crime is upgraded to a category C felony, punishable by one to five years in prison.
All that said, the act of defacing someone’s political poster, door, or decorations can be much more serious than you might think. Vandalism is far from just a juvenile prank.
The best way to avoid these criminal penalties is to create a solid defense strategy based on your circumstances. Here at LV Criminal Defense, we can help. Schedule a free case evaluation with our office now to learn more.
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