Hampton man given suspended sentence, probation for posting signs with racial threats

HAMPTON — It’s a suspended jail sentence and probation for a Hampton man accused of posting signs with racial threats around Hampton this past summer. 

38-year-old Daniel Embree was originally charged with one count of first-degree harassment, eight counts of second-degree harassment, eight counts of fifth-degree criminal mischief, and one count of trespassing via a hate crime.

A criminal complaint stated that flyers that read “USA Illegal Immigrant Hunting permit, no bag limits, tagging not required” were posted at eight Hampton businesses on August 13th. Investigators also say that the same sort of flyer was posted at a private residence in Hampton on June 1st.

Court documents show a search of Embree’s home found clothing consistent to what a suspect seen on security video was wearing, as well as documentation that indicated he was producing the flyers. Embree last month entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to all eight fifth-degree criminal mischief charges as well as the one trespass charge.

Judge Mark Milder on Monday sentenced Embree to a 180-day suspended jail sentence and placed him on two years probation. He also ordered a $430 fine be paid and ordered him to serve at least 100 hours of community service, allowing him to use that time to offset some of the fine money.

Embree was found guilty by a Black Hawk County judge in December on one count of third-degree harassment after he was accused of placing similar flyers in the Cedar Falls Public Library. He was fine $300 plus court costs.