Easton Woman Charged with Hate Crimes

An Easton woman has been arrested for hate crimes and destruction of property. Easton Police were called in late March for a political sign that was defaced with a sticker with a swastika. Officers found a Frank Gunsallus political sign had a sticker of a swastika on it. Officers later found a second Frank Gunsallus sign in the same area, with the same sticker. A third sign was also located with a swastika sticker in the area of 115 E. Dover Street. Detectives spoke with an African-American male that lives in the area, who was visibly shocked and appalled after seeing the swastika sticker. Detectives were able to recover surveillance video, showing that a white female operating a blue in color Subaru Forester, was the person who placed the swastika stickers.

On April 1st, Easton Police were called to the area of Glenwood Avenue and S. Washington Street in Easton in reference to an anti-swastika sticker with a line through it, on a stop sign.  Officers also found the same sticker in the following areas: 
– Port and S. Washington Street
– Multiple locations on N. Harrison Street
– In front of the Tidewater Inn
– South Street and S. Harrison Street

On April 28, Easton Police were dispatched to the area of the Amish Market in reference to vandalized political signs where they found two Frank Gunsallus signs with swastika stickers on them.

Officers also found anti-swastika stickers on West Street and Bay Street, 100 block of N. Washington Street,
30 and 32 E. Dover Street, Dover Street and Washington Street, and Brookletts Avenue at S. Harrison Street.

Easton Police identified the suspect as 53 year old Jennifer Cristaudo and with help from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search and seizure warrant at her home and vehicle on May 6^th where evidence was found connecting her to the stickers. Cristaudo has been charged with the following offenses: 

• Using Hate Symbol to Intimidate/Threaten Person (20 counts) 
• Malicious Destruction of Property valued over $1,000 (1 count) 
• Malicious Destruction of Property valued under $1,000 (1 count) 
• Malicious Destruction of Property Scheme valued over $1,000 (1 count) 
• Race/Religion Crime: Deface Property (1 count)