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Crime & Safety

Bail Set at $2,000 for Graffiti Suspect

Attorney of 48-year-old Port man says his client suffers from mental illness.

Bail was set at $2,000 Friday for a 48-year-old Port Washington man charged in connection with painting Nazi and Ku Klux Klan graffiti in the city last weekend and in 2010.

Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Sandy A. Williams also ordered Dale R. Ziegler to stay away from where the vandalism occurred — the Ozaukee Interurban Trail and . And he is to have no contact with spray paint or stencils, items that were used in the vandalism.

with two felony counts of criminal damage to religious property as well as two misdemeanor counts for graffiti. If convicted of all charges, Ziegler could face up to 8-1/2 years in prison and/or a $40,000 in fines.

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The graffiti started on the trail just beyond where it meets up with East Jackson Street, and continued near the church, where a message read, "Hitler's food pantry." St. Peter's Church houses Port's Food Pantry, and Ziegler, who is unemployed, blamed the pantry for not giving him enough food.

Spray-painted letters spelled out phrases such as, "nazi city," "ku klux klan," "human toilet," "f*** head," swastika symbols and more.

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Ziegler was not in court Friday but was seen through closed-circuit television from jail. He rocked in a chair throughout his initial appearance and only answered "yes" when asked if he understood charges. 

His attorney, Wilfred De Junco, said Ziegler suffered from mental illness, has no job and lives off Social Security. He said that Ziegler has a limited income and asked the judge to relase him on a signature bond.

However, because of Ziegler's criminal history and because he is a possible flight risk, Williams set bail at $2,000.

His next court date is Sept. 28.

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