Trump supporter who vandalized rainbow mural cries in court after his father tells the judge he's a disappointment

A Trump supporter, who vandalized a Florida street mural of the signature LGBTQ rainbow, was ordered to pen a 25-page message on the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting. However, that wasn't the part of his punishment that moved him to tears. It was his own father describing him as a disappointment before the judge.

According to LGBTQ Nation, Alexander Jerich, 20, of Delray Beach, Fla., drove over the mural and did a tire burnout which resulted in large 15-foot long, black skid marks that left thousands of dollars worth of damage. Per the news outlet, the act was "part of Jerich’s celebration of Donald Trump’s birthday, and he flew a Trump flag from his truck when he did it."

On Thursday, April 21, Jerich's sentencing hearing was held. That hearing came weeks after he entered a guilty plea to "criminal mischief and reckless driving" back in March. Palm Beach County Judge Scott Suskauer weighed in with his criticism of Jerich. “I was expecting someone who displays complete disrespect for their fellow citizens,” Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer said. “A person some might call a thug or a redneck.”

Delray Beach Man Behind Pride Crosswalk Vandalization Turns Himself In, Facing Chargeswww.youtube.com

Jerich's father also spoke at the hearing and shed light on the challenges he's faced raising his son. From school failures to his social isolation, Jerich's father detailed his disappointment in his son. He then offered an apology to the judge and said, “I’ve had problems in the past with fitting in. I was just trying to fit in and be accepted.”

The judge chastised Jerich but stopped short of granting the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council's demand for a one-year jail sentence. In addition to his opposition to incarceration for Jerich, the judge is also considering tossing the felony criminal mischief charge against him.

“I want your own brief summary of why people are so hateful and why people lash out against the gay community,” Judge Suskauer said of the requested essay. “I don’t want to do that to a young man who has his whole life ahead of him.”

He also added, "It would be a great opportunity for him to learn,” Judge Suskauer said. “I don’t think he would do any harm.”