Three teens arraigned in hate crimes

Swampscott, MA – Three 14-year-olds were arraigned in Lynn Juvenile Court in connection to hate crimes that occurred at the Temple Chabad of the North Shore in October.

Essex County District Attorney spokesman Karen Dawley said arraignments were held Monday and Tuesday for the three suspects.

The charges were labeled hate crimes by the district attorney’s office, which means the acts committed were meant to intimidate, harm or denigrate on the basis of religion or race.

The teens were charged with setting fire to a van belonging to the Chabad on Oct. 24 at 44 Burrill St. Officials did not confirm whether the juveniles were also found responsible for breaking and entering into the synagogue days before the start of Rosh Hashana and spraying anti-Semitic graffiti.

Swampscott police declined to answer questions about the case Tuesday and referred all inquiries to District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office. The DA’s office issued a press release pertaining to the suspects’ bails Tuesday. Juvenile court proceedings are closed to the press.

The three juveniles were charged with causing property damage with the intent to intimidate, willful destruction of the property of a church or synagogue in excess of $5,000 and breaking and entering in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony.

One of the juveniles arrested was taken into custody Monday on Cedar Brook Road, Lynn, on a Swampscott arrest warrant.

Two of the three juveniles arrested were also charged with arson to a motor vehicle. The third juvenile arrested was not charged with burning a motor vehicle but did answer charges of breaking and entering.

The DA requested all of the teens be held without bail, but the judge denied that request. Two of the three were held on $1,000 cash bail and the third was held on $2,000 cash bail.

All three teens were also issued a bail warning to stay away from rabbi Moshe Kohen and the Chabad of the North Shore.

“On behalf of our entire Jewish community, I would like to thank the Swampscott Police Department, Detective Ted Delano and the other agencies who worked together to find those responsible for the terrible act of arson. The recent vandalism has been distressing, it is comforting to know that those responsible will be brought to justice,” said Rabbi Kohen in a statement issued to the press. “It is painful and disturbing that such young boys would do something like this.”