Vandalism Acts Are Apolitical, Authorities Say

A man charged with vandalizing homes and businesses in the Gainesville area with messages targeting Republican Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign was not motivated by politics, and the acts don't qualify as hate crimes, Prince William County police said yesterday.

Daniel M. Jackson, 23, of Gainesville was charged with 21 counts of misdemeanor destruction of property and is being held without bond. He turned himself in Thursday after police obtained warrants for his arrest.

Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez said that some of the affected properties had McCain campaign signs but that others did not, suggesting the sites were chosen randomly. She declined to comment on other evidence indicating the vandalism was not politically motivated.

The graffiti was left early Oct. 25, affecting 12 homes, seven businesses, a church and a homeowner association's sign. The graffiti also included obscenities, the number 666 and a pentagram. Jackson is due in court Dec. 3.

Prince William Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) -- who called for an investigation after the incidents occurred, labeling them "voter intimidation" -- said yesterday that he deferred to police on the motive for the graffiti.

"They're the experts," Stewart said. "It certainly looked political, and who knows what was going through this guy's mind. . . . I'm glad they caught the guy because the families were terrified. They had no idea who did this or why they did it."

Conrad Holtslag, a Republican activist who lives in the Virginia Oaks subdivision where some of the vandalism occurred, said he disagreed with the police conclusion that the vandalism was apolitical.

"That's completely ludicrous," Holtslag said. "It was directed at Senator McCain running for president. . . . He said on one house, 'Support Satan, Vote McCain,' so there is a direct reference to the political process and voting for someone."

Samuel Chamberlain, pastor of the Apostolic Faith United Pentecostal Church on Glenkirk Road, which was vandalized, said that he was pleased someone was in custody and that it was "a blessing" that it had rained about the time the paint was applied, which helped in removing it.

"We removed it before most of the congregation ever saw it," Chamberlain said. "There's no excuse for it, quite frankly."