Man told to avoid Gregory, staffers

Cross thrower pleads to vandalism, harassment charges

Cross thrower pleads to vandalism, harassment charges

By Kay Stephens

kstephens@altoonamirror.com

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A Hollidaysburg man has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with throwing a wooden cross through the front window of state Rep. Jim Gregory's office in January.

Joseph Allen Fox Jr., 31, on Tuesday rendered guilty pleas to five charges in exchange for five years' probation.

Judge Daniel J. Milliron accepted Fox's pleas to possessing an instrument of crime, institutional vandalism, harassment, criminal mischief and harassment by communications.

Before imposing sentence, the judge told Fox that a condition of his sentence will require him to remain on his side of Allegheny Street and to avoid all contact with Gregory, Gregory's family and Gregory's office staff.

Fox, who lives in an apartment across the street from Gregory's office, said he will comply.

"Close calls are not going to be accepted," Milliron said before spelling out the risk.

"If there's a connection to Jim Gregory, then Mr. Fox is going to go to jail," the judge said.

After the hearing, Gregory expressed hope of Fox's compliance.

"For the sake of myself, my staff and my family, I have to have faith that he will comply," Gregory said. "If he does not, then I hope the security cameras will provide us with what we need to come back in front of Judge Milliron."

After Fox threw a 24-inch by 12-inch wooden cross through the front office window at 324 Allegheny St., Gregory temporarily closed the office to make safety upgrades.

District Attorney Pete Weeks told Milliron that office manager Kelly Hileman and a co-worker would have had "a face full of glass" if not for coronavirus protective barriers.

Before breaking the window, Hileman described Fox as someone who dropped off letters with rambling statements at the office.

Fox also dropped off two boxes, Hileman said, with a message indicating his conscience was clear and that "you should start building your war chest."

While Fox has been out of jail on bail, Hileman said she and her co-workers have watched him walk past the office door.

"That's a re-traumatizing of myself and my staff, every time," Hileman told the judge.

Fox also, in February, posted a Nazi flag on a social media account.

Milliron, acknowledging an abhorrence for the Nazi flag, said the posting could be viewed as an exercise of free speech. After Weeks pointed out that one of Fox's bail conditions forbids use of social media, Milliron agreed that the posting was a violation.

Defense attorney Julia Burke told Milliron that Fox removed the post as soon as he realized he shouldn't have posted it.

"He understands it was wrong," Burke said.

Fox's sentencing order also requires him to undergo a mental health evaluation and to follow recommended treatment. The judge also told Fox that he will need to share that information with his probation officer so it can be determined if he is in compliance with his sentence.

Gregory also spoke to Fox in court, reminding Fox that they have never exchanged words.

A couple of years ago, Gregory said he reached out to Fox and suggested they have coffee, something that didn't happen.

As Gregory spoke in court on Tuesday, Fox kept his head down.

"I'm a person," Gregory told him. "I'm not just some object of people's hate."

Mirror Staff Writer Kay

Stephens is at 814-946-7456.