A Naperville man has been found guilty of criminal damage to property for placing swastika stickers on campaign signs of then DuPage County Board candidate Patty Gustin in October 2022.
The case, centered around Keith Klingeman, 51, came to an end with a verdict on Friday at the DuPage County Courthouse after more than two years of court proceedings.
Swastikas on signs warrant charge, judge says
Klingeman faced one count of criminal damage to property and two counts of hate crime heading into Friday’s hearing.
The Naperville man was accused of placing swastika stickers on two of Gustin’s campaign signs, and cutting another sign with a knife.
Judge Daniel Guerin first delivered the guilty verdict for criminal damage to property. He said Klingeman’s specific use of a swastika symbol constitutes damage to the campaign sign, rendering it “useless” and “garbage.”
No hate crime charge for Klingeman
On the question of whether the circumstances warranted a hate crime charge for Klingeman, Guerin said his primary focus was “to look at the motive of the perpetrator.”
During the defendant’s bench trial on Dec. 2, the prosecuting attorneys played a video in the court room from a Naperville policeman’s body camera when he and an Aurora police officer visited Klingeman’s residence during the initial investigation to question him on the campaign sign incidents.
The footage showed Klingeman admitting to police he placed swastikas on the two campaign signs and cut one of her signs with a knife.
The defendant said during the video he was frustrated with Gustin’s comments at a Naperville City Council meeting where she said an issue was “above her paygrade.” He followed that up by saying Gustin didn’t “want to help the people.”
Klingeman also said during the video, “I am peaceful. I would never threaten anyone,” and that he had, “nothing against Patty.”
The judge said on Friday that Klingeman did not provide any statement or context specifically detailing what Gustin had said during the meeting, or why he used a swastika. Guerin cited several hate crime convictions in Illinois where the perpetrator’s actions or words were coupled with a clear motive.
Guerin ruled Klingeman was not guilty on hate crime charges, though he said the Naperville man’s conduct was “understandably frightening” to Gustin.
Klingeman will not face jail time, but the rules of his sentence are as follows:
- One year probation
- Undergo Support Needs Approach for Patients (SNAP) evaluation
- Write an apology letter to Patty Gustin
- No contact with the Gustin family
- Take a course with the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission
- $250 contribution to an anti-crime organization
After the hearing, Klingeman’s attorney Jason Kunowski said he thought it was a “fair ruling,” and that his client was happy to have his day in court.
Though disappointed in the failed hate crime charge, Gustin considered the decision, “a win for the community.”
“You can’t do this, (you can’t) treat people like this,” Gustin said. “I’m glad the (DuPage County) State’s Attorney went through with the conviction and received a guilty charge.”
If you have a story idea, we want to hear from you!
