On Tuesday, a Lancaster County jury found 34-year-old Joseph Schrader guilty of criminal mischief and disturbing the peace following a bizarre incident at a Nebraska DMV service center last May. Schrader admitted to entering the DMV in Lincoln’s Highlands neighborhood with a bag of fish fillets and carrots, which he threw around the facility, but denied intending to cause damage or disturb anyone’s peace.
Schrader, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, claimed he was frustrated after years of being denied a driver’s license due to a DMV error labeling him a noncitizen. He testified that his actions were meant to draw attention to the issue, which he said was eventually corrected when he received his license while in jail.
During the trial, DMV manager Sarah Hogue testified that Schrader entered the building yelling, smeared fish on the carpet and walls, and threw the bag into the ceiling, leaving an odor that lingered for weeks. Jurors saw photos of fish and carrots scattered around the office, though video evidence of the incident was not available due to a miscommunication.
Schrader’s attorney, Bill Chapin, argued that his client’s intent was to make a statement, not cause damage. Prosecutors, however, presented testimony estimating cleanup costs at over $4,300, and argued that Schrader’s actions intentionally disturbed DMV staff and disrupted operations.
The jury deliberated for several hours before returning a guilty verdict on both charges. Schrader faces up to one year in prison for criminal mischief and an additional three months for disturbing the peace. Sentencing is scheduled for January.
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