| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 31, 2023 Case # 23WF0382 |
Kimberly Edds Director of Public Affairs Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-504-1917 |
Man Charged with Hate Crime for Defacing Costa Mesa Mural Celebrating Strong Latina Women with White Supremacy Graffiti
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 27-year-old man has been charged with a hate crime for spray painting white supremacy graffiti over a Costa Mesa mural celebrating influential Latinas from Orange County.
Daniel Hotte, 27, of Dana Point, is facing one felony count of vandalism exceeding $400 and one felony enhancement of a hate crime. He faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison if convicted on all charges.
Hotte pleaded not guilty today and is currently being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
On Monday, October 31, 2022, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Costa Mesa police were called to the 3000 block of Killybrooke near Baker Street regarding the defacing of the Las Poderosas mural, a public mural created in 2020 to honor eight poderosas – or strong women. Several witnesses reported seeing a man scratching out several of the women’s names and spray painting “white power” and “PEN1 737,” a reference to Public Enemy Number 1, a documented white supremacist gang.
The vandalism suspect was later identified by police as 27-year-old Daniel Hotte of Dana Point.
Hotte was arrested Monday by Costa Mesa police at the Harbor Justice Center when he appeared on an unrelated criminal matter.
“Art is one of the many beautiful ways we tell the story of who we are and where we came from,” said Orange County District Attorney’s Office. “It is heartbreaking to see the stories of such powerful women who overcame incredible obstacles to succeed be defaced with such hate. Ugly words will never cover up the achievements of these amazing women, including Frances Muñoz, a former Orange County Superior Court judge who served as the first Latina trial judge in California. We will continue to hold haters accountable and send a strong message that there is no room for hate here in Orange County – or anywhere.”
Senior Deputy District Attorney Cliff Page of the Gangs/TARGET Unit is prosecuting this case.
Click here for full press release.
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