Modesto man arraigned on multiple hate crime felonies. Racist graffiti sparked investigation
A Modesto man was arraigned Monday in Stanislaus Superior Court and charged with multiple hate crimes and civil rights violations related to racist graffiti and threats against undocumented immigrants.
Anthony Ruben Rodriguez, 39, is facing four felony counts of making criminal threats, stalking and violation of the state’s hate crime statutes. He also is charged with misdemeanors for allegedly defacing property with graffiti and for threatening harm to neighbors and other individuals.
Rodriguez was arrested Dec. 5, two days after Latino community advocates appeared at the Board of Supervisors meeting to air complaints about racist graffiti in Modesto and Ceres, including a sign in the Parklawn area. The Sheriff’s Department and Modesto police teamed up in an investigation that resulted in the man’s arrest at his home on Morgan Road.
According to a criminal complaint, Rodriguez made a violent threat Dec. 4 against a victim that would have resulted in death or great bodily injury. Modesto police responded to the hate-crime report in the area of Ninth and K streets after a woman found a note on her vehicle that threatened violence based on race.
The Sheriff’s Department notified Modesto police Thursday that Rodriguez was a possible suspect, prompting city police to notice they had an arrest warrant for Rodriguez tied to a criminal threats and stalking investigation in October.
Another hate-crime charge accuses Rodriguez of threatening and stalking an Hispanic woman Oct. 10, causing her to fear for her safety.
The criminal complaint also alleges that Rodriguez repeatedly followed and harassed another Hispanic woman between April 28 and May 31, 2022. A misdemeanor charge alleges that Rodriguez defaced property with racist graffiti, saying “kill wetbacks”, in the 1700 block of Morgan Road from March 31 to June 1, 2024.
He also is charged with making racial threats and intimidating neighbors on Morgan Road over a four-month period this year.
Rodriquez could be sentenced to state prison if convicted of the felony hate-crime charges and enhancements. He has a court date set for Jan. 29.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 3:09 PM.
