A man and a woman who faced hate crime charges in July of 2020 after they defaced a Black Lives Matter mural in California, are now facing felony charges over the alleged burglary of a dead man’s home, the Mercury News reports.
David Nelson, 54, and Nicole Anderson, 43, made headlines after they were caught on video defacing a Black Lives Matter mural in the city of Martinez. The two still face hate crime charges over the incident, but are now facing a second-degree burglary charge, which is a felony. Nelson was additionally charged with two counts of possessing methamphetamine for sale.
From the Mercury News:
Prosecutors allege that Nelson and Anderson broke into the home of a recently-deceased man on Adler Avenue in unincorporated Walnut Creek. Authorities say the sheriff was receiving regular calls in December from residents complaining that cars were parking there at irregular hours.
On Dec. 4, two cars later linked to Nelson and Anderson were seen outside, according to authorities. The following day, a deputy pulled over Nelson near the area, searched his vehicle, and allegedly found property from the home, as well as approximately 80 grams of methamphetamine. On Dec. 22, police served a search warrant at the couple’s Martinez home and found more of the deceased man’s property, as well as approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine.
In July of 2020, Anderson was caught on video taking a paint roller and covering up the mural’s giant yellow letters with black paint while Nelson recorded the act and berated onlookers. As the Mercury News points out, their trial for the vandalism was due to start this year, but it’s not known how the new charges will affect that.
