NewsLocal News

Actions

Milwaukee man charged for destroying Virgin Mary statue at St. Adalbert Church

Milwaukee man charged for destroying Virgin Mary statue at St. Adalbert Church
Posted
and last updated

MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee man has been charged with a felony for vandalizing a statue of the Virgin Mary at a south side church.  

It happened Monday outside of St. Adalbert’s Parish.

According to the criminal complaint, Joshua Cisero is accused of the crime. He’s charged with criminal damage to a religious property, a felony, and if convicted Cisero could spend three and half years behind bars.

Although a new statue stands in place of the old one, some people are still offended.

“That’s messed up. People don’t have no respect today,” John Calderon said.  

Calderon considers this a targeted crime.

“Racism, nothing else. They were trying to target the center of the southside," Calderon said. 

According to court documents, Cisero “caused a scene causing cars to slow down and people to crowd around.” 

When asked why he smashed the statue to pieces with a metal pole, Cisero said, “‘They practice idolatry. They worship Mary, God said ‘Thou shall have no other gods before me’ …And I destroyed it.” 

The church said the statue itself was worth at least $100,000  — but it meant more to them than any amount of money.