Oakdale man charged with hate crime after allegedly destroying Starbucks pride flag
An Oakdale man has been charged with a felony hate crime after authorities say he removed and destroyed an LGBTQ pride flag displayed inside an Oakdale Starbucks.
Shane Alan Cawelti, 30, was charged Monday in Stanislaus County Superior Court with felony interference with the exercise of civil rights, according to court records.
The charge stems from an April 29 incident at the Starbucks at 325 E. F St. in Oakdale.
Oakdale Police Department Sgt. Madyson Falconi said officers responded to the Starbucks after receiving a report that a man had entered the business, removed an LGBTQ pride flag from the building and destroyed it outside before leaving the area.
Police reviewed surveillance footage during the investigation, Falconi said.
“Because of the circumstances and the type of flag it was, it was charged as a hate crime,” she told The Bee.
Falconi said no one was assaulted or physically injured during the incident, and the suspect did not threaten anyone inside the business.
Several days later, Cawelti came to the Oakdale Police Department and admitted to removing and destroying the flag, Falconi said. He was then arrested and booked into jail.
Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero confirmed the case was filed as a hate crime.
“After a review of the incident that occurred in Oakdale, the case has been filed as a hate crime,” Laugero said in a statement. “A prosecutor with specialized training from the District Attorney’s Hate Crime Team will be assigned the case.”
Court records show Cawelti pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday before Judge David Hood. He was later released on his own recognizance.
As part of his release conditions, Cawelti was ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from the Starbucks location, the MoPride Center and the LGBTQ+ Collaborative.
An early case management hearing is scheduled for May 15 before Judge Jeff Mangar.
Oakdale Mayor Cherilyn Bairos condemned the incident in a statement to The Bee. “There is no place for hate in Oakdale,” she said. “Everyone deserves to feel safe, valued and respected in our community regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion or background.”
Roman Scanlon, a spokesperson for CalPride, said the incident has resonated throughout the local LGBTQ community. “Pride flags represent inclusion, dignity, safety and a visible message that LGBTQ+ people belong,” Scanlon said. “Incidents like this can create fear and anxiety, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals living in smaller or more rural communities.”
He noted this year will mark Oakdale’s first Pride celebration. “Protective measures are an important step in helping community members feel safer while the legal process moves forward.”
Attempts to reach Starbucks corporate representatives, Cawelti’s attorneys and Cawelti himself for comment were unsuccessful as of Thursday morning.
This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 11:46 AM.
