DARLINGTON — A Shullsburg teen who reportedly painted a swastika and the word “deported” on a residential door with a younger accomplice is charged with a hate crime.

Jason M. Leitzinger, 17, faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property, modified as a hate crime and as a party to a crime. His initial appearance in Lafayette County Circuit Court is Nov. 4.

The case stems from an incident in the early morning hours of Sept. 29 in Shullsburg.

According to the criminal complaint:

Leitzinger and a 15-year-old friend defaced a stop sign and city park building and painted “obscene, hateful” symbols including a swastika and the word “deported” on the front door of a residence on East High Street.

The resident, a native of Mexico, discovered the vandalized door and reported it to police later that morning. He told police he interpreted it as a death threat.

A neighbor’s garage surveillance camera caught the suspects on video.

Leitzinger and the younger teen later explained to police that they got “bored” on the night in question.

A charge modified as a hate crime increases potential penalties, including higher fines and more jail time. By state law, a hate crime is targeted and motivated by a belief or perception of the victim’s race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, “whether or not the belief or perception is correct.”