SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 23-year-old Fullerton woman pleaded guilty today to one count of misdemeanor vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of graffiti for posting Nazi propaganda posters at Newport Harbor High School and Fullerton College.
Grace Elisabeth Ziesmer, 23, of Fullerton,agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a court offer of 40 hours community service and one year informal probation. Ziesmer was ordered to pay $517.12 in restitution.
On March 4, 2019, Ziesmer posted Nazi propaganda posters on city light poles near Fullerton College. Ziesmer is also 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.
“Expressing hatred towards any particular group will never be tolerated in Orange County,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Vandalizing a school or any place with propaganda spreads a violent message to students and residents and does not belong in Orange County.”
Ziesmer was not charged with a hate crimes enhancement due to a lack of sufficient evidence that her contact was directed at a particular victim for being Jewish. 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 prosecuted this case.
