Sydney man previously convicted over Nazi salute now charged with 53 hate crime offences over month-long spree
A young man previously convicted for performing a Nazi salute is now facing more than 50 fresh charges after allegedly vandalising public property for nearly a month.
Felix John Jerzy Kiera, 21, was allegedly caught spraying paint on decals supporting Indigenous and gay communities along Crystal St in Sydney's Petersham about 12.20am on Sunday.
He was arrested at the scene and taken to Newtown Police Station.
Following further investigation, police allege Kiera had been defacing buildings and political posters with offensive messages in the Erskineville and Newtown areas since April 22.
His alleged targets include the Greens, and members of the Indigenous, Jewish and gay communities.
The Newtown man now faces 23 charges of damaging property, 21 charges of publicly displaying Nazi symbols without a valid reason, eight charges of marking premises without permission, and one charge of entering enclosed land without lawful excuse.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
In November last year, Kiera was arrested after he gatecrashed the Trans Day of Resistance Rally, a march of about 60 people to protest against the marginalisation of trans and non-binary people.
He stepped in front of the crowd and raised his right arm, palm down before shouting the Nazi salute and spouting a homophobic remark and other profanities.
He pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public without a reasonable excuse at the time.
In court, Kiera said performing a Nazi salute was not an offence, but a legitimate political statement.
He told the magistrate he was ignorant and did not want to go to jail.
Taking into account his age and lack of criminal history, the magistrate convicted Kiera and fined him $1000.
Outside court, his father told reporters his son was not a Nazi and was sorry.
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