The Vandalism of the San Antonio Missions San Antonians were angered after reports of two missions being defaced with politically-motivated graffitti in June 2018. A day after First Lady Melania Trump wore a jacket that read, “I Really Don’t Care. Do U?” after visiting a Texas immigrations detention center, the same message was spray-painted on the walls of Missions San Jose and San Juan. Security footage revealed that three individuals took part in the incident, and were quickly identified as Andres Castaneda, Gabriella Fritz and Sydney Faris. The trio was handed community service and $10,500 in penalties as part of their sentencing. Photos via Bexar County Jail Credit: L-R Sydney Faris, Andres Castaneda, Gabriella Fritz

A federal grand jury has indicted the three suspects who allegedly vandalized Mission San Jose with politically-motivated messages last month.

On Wednesday, suspects Gabriella Petra Fritz, Sydney Elizabeth Faris and Andres Castaneda were charged with one count of depredation of government property.

The charges come after the June 22 defacement of Missions San Jose and San Juan. Although the vandalism at the two missions are in the same color spray paint and have the same message, the charges are only for Mission San Jose. The damages there exceeded $1,000.

The phrase “I don’t care. Do you?” was found at both missions a day after First Lady Melania Trump wore a jacket with the phrase as she boarded a plane to visit an immigration detention center in South Texas. At Mission San Juan, “Fuck ICE” was also graffitied.

If found guilty, Fritz, Faris and Castaneda could face a maximum punishment of 10 years in federal prison.

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This article appears in Jul 11-17, 2018.

Digital Content Editor