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Jennifer Cristaudo, 53, has been charged with 20 counts of using a hate symbol, three counts of malicious destruction of property and one count of defacing property in a race/religion crime. All counts are misdemeanors.

According to charging documents, Cristaudo allegedly placed six swastika stickers on political signs and 16 stickers with red lines through swastikas on town property, such as light poles and stop signs.

The six stickers placed on Gunsallus signs were all in “high-minority areas,� according to charging documents prepared by Detective Cory Schuch.

“The placement of a hate symbol, such as a swastika on campaign signs in these areas is a clear indication that Cristaudo’s motivation was to intimidate minority voters in the Town of Easton to not vote for Frank Gunsallus,� charging documents stated.

Police say the placement of the stickers began in late March and continued through early May. The election was held May 6.

According to the Easton Police Department, on March 26, officers located three swastika stickers on Gunsallus signs. They reviewed surveillance video, which showed a woman driving a blue Subaru as the person placing the hate symbols.

On April 1, police discovered another defaced sign. April 28, officers found two more Gunsallus signs defaced near the Easton Amish Market.

Per charging documents, police later found 16 swastika stickers with red lines throughout town, with 10 reported on April 1 and 2, and six reported between April 30 and May 6.

According to court documents, a town official told police removing the stickers causes “permanent damage� to the signs, “rendering them unusable.� The town’s public works department estimated $21,000 in replacement costs.

In addition to video footage linking Cristaudo to the stickers, court documents state police found a “large roll of matching swastika stickers� in Cristaudo’s residence.

Matching clothing and more stickers were found in her car, police said in charging documents.

During the campaign, Gunsallus and his then-opponent Don Abbatiello both spoke out against sign vandalism. Gunsallus told Â鶹´«Ã½ in March that “these types of things shouldn’t happen during a campaign.â€�

“This act of hate has escalated the situation into a deeply troubling reality that demands our collective attention,â€� Gunsallus wrote in a letter sent to Â鶹´«Ã½, local police and various local officials in March.

Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, interim rabbi for Temple B’Nai Israel and Satell Center for Jewish Life on the Eastern Shore, said he was “disappointed� but not “shocked� by the use of hate symbols.

“I would say Easton and Talbot County are mostly a wonderful refuge from some of that national division,� he said. “But sadly, and maybe inevitably, pieces of that creep in.�

Dobb said the placement of hate symbols is “utterly unacceptable� no matter the intent. “Full-on continental devastation and genocide — which is the ultimate Nazi legacy — needs to be reserved for issues far greater than Town Council,� Dobb said.

Lt. Milton Orellana, special operations commander for the Easton Police Department, said Monday that the department had also received a report of a Ku Klux Klan hood being placed on a Gunsallus sign during the campaign. Police were not sure who was behind that incident.

Orellana said police are actively investigating both incidents. A preliminary hearing for Cristaudo is set for June 20.

Gunsallus declined to further comment on the situation, citing the ongoing investigation.