Man pleads guilty to posting anti-migrant signs near Colorado Capitol in March

DENVER ( KDVR ) — A man has pleaded guilty to placing anti-migrant signs around the Colorado Capitol in March , but will not face charges for similar actions he allegedly took in September where racist signs were found along Colfax Avenue at bus stops , according to Denver officials.

56-year-old Christopher Balli entered a guilty plea to a municipal code violation for illegally posting on public or private property, as the signs were attached to city street sign poles on March 22.

The city did not press hate crime charges for the offense, although the signs featured the words hookers, migrants and undocumented alongside denigrating critiques. One sign said, “Caution undocumented Democrats” and showed people running with weapons, including one person hand-in-hand with a child. Another insinuated that migrants were acting as sex workers, with a sign below reading $20.

According to the Denver City Attorney’s Office, Balli pleaded guilty with a deferred judgment for the March signs. The city said he was not cited for signs posted in September “because we gave consideration for the fact that Mr. Balli took accountability for his actions and has discontinued the behavior.”

“However, he will be required to pay restitution for both incidents,” the attorney’s office said in an email to FOX31. “Any law violations from today forward would be a violation of the conditions of his sentence.”

The Denver City Attorney’s Office said the restitution was set for $600 for both incidents.

Racist signs seen before daylight in March, September

The driver who reported the signs before sunrise in March told FOX31 that they thought the signs were legitimate and “some kind of caution signs.” The signs were removed by Capitol crews and the Colorado State Patrol was investigating the matter. The signs were placed around the Colorado Capitol as Denver was dealing with an influx of migrants who were being bused into the city.

A Regional Transportation District bus operator spotted more signs on Colfax Avenue in September around 5 a.m. The bus driver saw the metal sign attached to a bus stop pole near Colfax Avenue and Oneida Street in the Montclair neighborhood.

RTD shared photos of these signs with FOX31, showing that the signs used terms and phrases offensive toward Black people and immigrants, and also appeared to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris over border policy. A sign references “Kamala’s illegals” and shows a silhouette image of people running. Another sign references historical racism against Black people who were forced to sit in the back of public buses.

Many state leaders condemned the signs, along with RTD.

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