A Montauk man is responsible for 14 separate acts involving hateful graffiti on the East End, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.
Michael Nicholoulias, 74, was arrested following a joint surveillance effort with the Suffolk County district attorney, Suffolk County Police Department Hate Crimes and East Hampton Police Department.
Tierney said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon that they had been watching Nicholoulias since Nov. 10.
He says he was observed Monday night drawing a swastika on a bench in Montauk and then arrested.
Nicholoulias was allegedly vandalizing property from October to December.
He is facing 14 charges, including aggravated harassment and criminal mischief.
Nicholoulias pleaded not guilty and was released with GPS monitoring and two orders of protection.
If convicted, he faces one and a third to four years in jail. His next court date is Dec. 7.
The Montauk community came together Tuesday to paint powerful messages of unity on the side of one of the buildings that was covered in the hateful graffiti.
