Accused Christmas Decoration Slasher Faces Charges

A Waukesha teenager, who admitted to slashing Christmas decorations, damaging a window with a BB gun and blowing up a mailbox in December, told a police officer he wanted to “terrorize” people, according to a criminal complaint.

Dakota J. Kafer, 17, was charged with arson of property other than a building and three counts of criminal damage to property. If convicted, he faces to 3-3/4 years in prison and $40,000 in fines.

Kafer was a month shy of his 17th birthday at the time of the offenses. However, he is being charged as an adult in the vandalism incident.

A responding police officer found a mailbox “completely engulfed in flames with pieces of plastic dripping onto the ground causing a small fire at the base of the mailbox as well” on Dec. 9, according to a criminal complaint. The homeowner estimated the damage at $120 and told police the mailbox had been decorated with garland.

Meanwhile, Waukesha police were receiving reports throughout the city of Christmas decorations being vandalized. In particular, several large inflatable snow globes had been slashed or stabbed.

Kafer’s parents turned him into the Waukesha Police Department, telling officers they believed their son was responsible for the vandalism, the complaint states.

Kafer admitted to an officer to damaging Christmas decorations at 15 homes. He even rode with the officer to point out each home he had vandalized, the complaint states.

Kafer told police he had committed the vandalism acts with a friend to “terrorize” people. He also said he “conned” his friend into burning the mailbox, the complaint says.

When they lit the gasoline/oil mixture that they placed on the mailbox, the mailbox exploded, according to the complaint. Kafer told a police officer that if his car had been parked closer to the curb, it would have also exploded.

Kafer and his friend were also responsible for shooting 10 BB rounds into a window on Dec. 9, according to the complaint.