Hampton man gets probation for threatening signs on Hispanic businesses, homes

A northern Iowa man has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to leaving threatening flyers on Hispanic-owned businesses and homes.

Daniel Embree, 38, of Hampton was charged in August with taping printouts on the doors of several properties that read “Illegal immigrant hunting permit. No bag limit. Tagging not required.” The signs also had a Trump 2024 logo.

Franklin County prosecutors accused Embree of trespass as a hate crime and numerous counts of criminal mischief. He also was charged separately with harassment in Black Hawk County, where police said he was observed on camera leaving similar notices on shelves and in Spanish-language books at the Cedar Falls Public Library.

In December, Embree pleaded guilty to the Franklin County charges, and on Monday he was sentenced. Judge Mark Milder imposed consecutive 20-day sentences for seven criminal mischief charges and one count of trespass, but suspended all of them in lieu of two years’ probation. He also ordered Embree to pay fines of $430 for each count, although Embree may be allowed to fulfil those obligations through community service instead.

Embree’s attorney did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

In his Black Hawk County case, Embree was found guilty and fined $300 after missing a court hearing earlier this month, although he has filed to request a hearing and attributed his absence to a medical emergency.

The flyers drew widespread condemnation, including from Franklin County Republican leaders and the Iowa Democratic Party.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa man gets probation for threatening signs on Hispanic properties