Prosecutors: Stabbing Not a Hate Crime

The Brooklyn D.A.’s Office has dropped hate crime charges against Keny Rochelin, the 26-year-old man arrested for the stabbing of Leiby Brickman in Crown Heights one month ago and another two people in Prospect Park last week, saying the suspect is likely suffering from mental illness and didn’t stab Brikman because he is Jewish.

According to a report by JP Updates, the top charge in the criminal complaint, which is still sealed because Rochelin hasn’t been arraigned yet, will be assault.

In the meantime, Rochelin is in Kings County Hospital undergoing psychiatric evaluation.

An investigation into Rochelin’s criminal history reveals a troubling pattern of law-breaking and violence, with several arrests over the past year for turnstile-jumping on the subway and skirting MTA fares, as well as an arrest for shoplifting from a clothing store in Brooklyn.

Even more troubling is an incident which occurred in the Bronx in 2015, in which Rochelin was arrested and charged with assault with intent to cause physical harm with a weapon – a class D felony – for hitting someone over the head multiple times with a metal lock, causing the victim to require ten staples to repair his damaged skull.

The felony charge in that case was subsequently dropped, although five other less-serious charges connected with the incident remained – including menacing to the 2nd and 3rd degree, criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use, assault with intent to cause injury and harassment.

Shockingly, Rochelin was released in that incident “on his own recognizance,” (i.e. without any bail requirement). One wonders whether keeping this man off the streets might have been a wiser choice.

15 Comments

  • Ma Rabbi

    This is sick. If a white man stabbed a black it would be a hate crime but when this black stabbed a Jew it was not? There is something rotten here.

  • pinchos

    He needs HELP!!!!! B 4 OTHERES SUFFER, from his mental illness. Its in saiyne……..

  • 48 yr in the hood

    WITH THE BIG MEETING LAST WEEK .
    WE STILL GOT SCREWED . HE WILL BE BACK ON THE STREETS BECAUSE OF THE STATE LAW
    ” YOU CANT KEEP THE MENTALLY ILL LOCKED UP AGAINST THERE WILL ”
    SO THE STATE PUTS THE PUBLIC IN RISK FOR THERE LIFE . AND POSSIBLY GET KILLED , SO THE MENTALLY ILL HAVE THE RIGHTS. BUT WE HAVE NO RIGHTS

  • SD

    FIND THE JUDGE- IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO FIND OUT THE NAME OF THE JUDGE THAT RELEASED THIS REPEAT OFFENDER WITHOUT BAIL, AND START A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN AGAINST THESE LIBERAL JUDGES. THESE PERPETRATORS WILL CONTINUE THESE NEFARIOUS ACTIONS AS LONG AS THEY KNOW THEY WILL NOT DO ANY SERIOUS TIME IN PRISON.

  • Anonymous

    if he stabbed 2 non-jews, it isnt forsure a hate crime just because one of the 3 he stabbed was a jew. it was a person who was unfortunately there when he decided to stab someone
    if a white stabbed a black, then 2 whites, the first stabbing would not be a racist attack. just because blacks would insist it is anyway, it doesnt mean we have to stoop to their level

  • Why Such Leniency

    Instead of protecting the victim and preventing other
    victims chas v’sholom the NYPD & “justice” are
    protecting the anti- semitic unprovoked murderer.
    Absolutely sickening!!!

  • "protecting our community?!!!"

    Why are they protecting a criminal a murderer under
    the pretext of a psychiatric case!!!
    Do they think we are stupid? Wonder who bribed them
    and how much. What makes a murderer qualify as
    mentally ill instead of being sentenced for life imprisonment?!!!

  • what is happening in the world!!

    Wait until he stabs or kills the judges child!! will he then put him away???? ABSOLUTELY!!!

  • So so sad!

    I highly doubt he’s the same guy who stabbed the Brikman boy in crown heights

  • pinchos

    HE SHOULD BE IN MENTAL HOME LOCKED UP!!!!!! HOW DO YOU LET SOME ONE FREE & LEAVE A MENTAL PERSON LIKE THAT ON THE STREETS?????H.E.L.L.O.W. A.M.E.R.I.CA. W.A.K.E. U.P.

  • Anonymous

    This guy has a lot of court time ahead of him. Hope he doesn’t make bail:

    Case #

    Defendant

    Summons #

    Appearance Date

    Court

    Judge

    Part

    2016SK014066 Rochelin, Keny 4424659259 04/01/2016 Kings Criminal Court SAP
    2015BX045084 Rochelin, Keny 04/14/2016 Bronx Criminal Court AP4
    2015KN065068 Rochelin, Keny 04/22/2016 Kings Criminal Court AP4
    2015KN068374 Rochelin, Keny 05/04/2016 Kings Criminal Court AP6
    2015KN075083 Rochelin, Keny 05/24/2016 Kings Criminal Court ASC
    2015KN075083 Rochelin, Keny 09/02/2016 Kings Criminal Court AP5

  • Shimon Shak

    This is the right call. There was no evidence reported whatsoever to suggest that the stabbing was racially motivated and driven by hate. The fact that the other two victims were not Orthodox Jews underscores that. When it comes down to it “Hate Crime” is a charge they simply cannot prove and they are doing a good job of putting together charges that will stick and put him away for a long time.

  • Please!!!!!

    A murderer should be charged for attempted murder! Its clearly attempted murder ! Boruch Hashem for His
    intervention.
    What a ridiculous play of words -“hate crime”
    or not. Leave the wording for the record. Justice means treating the murderer for attempted murder!!!

  • Thats BS

    Criminals cannot keep getting away with crimes; stabbings, shootings, stabbing and then crying mental illness!!!! It’s disgusting! If this individual does in fact have a mental illness and he stabbed an innocent person then he cannot be on the streets! Put him in a treatment home! But ENOUGH with the made up excuses!