Revere man charged with racist attack on Obama, neighbor

REVERE – An unemployed Revere man already on bail for gun charges stands accused of spray-painting racist messages that threatened a neighbor and President Barack Obama.
John Sieckarski, 49, had his open bail revoked and new bail set at $10,000 Thursday at his Chelsea District Court arraignment.
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, the defendant was arrested by Revere police in November on 22 counts of unlawfully possessing firearms or ammunition in his home and improper storage of those firearms. Sieckarski had been released on his own recognizance.
That situation changed Thursday when Revere police again arrested Sieckarski on a warrant charging him with spray painting a variety of racist slogans and messages on property belonging to one of his former neighbors, an African-American man. The graffiti included one message indicating that Obama should be assassinated and another stating the former neighbor in question “should die,” according to Jake Wark, a spokesman for the district attorney.
The messages were painted on a concrete table outside the neighbor’s apartment. Court records indicated Sieckarski last lived at 8 Adams Court.
At the arraignment, Suffolk prosecutors moved to have Sieckarski’s bail on the gun charges revoked and sought bail on the graffiti offenses as well. Chelsea District Court Judge James Wexler granted that motion, meaning Sieckarski will be held without bail for up to 60 days. Wexler also set $5,000 cash bail each on the gun case and the vandalism case for a total of $10,000.
Investigators notified the U.S. Secret Service of the apparent threat against Obama, Wark said.
A court clinician is expected to evaluate Sieckarski today for possible mental health issues. Suffolk prosecutors will review the case for potential civil rights charges as well.
Sieckarski was represented by defense lawyer Andrew Gordon.