Juveniles charged with hate crimes

Three juveniles were arrested last week by Swampscott police, ending a two-month search for the perpetrators behind two anti-Semitic incidents at the Lubavitch synagogue of the North Shore. The youths were arraigned at the Lynn Juvenile Court on Dec. 19 and 20 for allegedly committing a series of hate crimes against the synagogue.

The first incident occurred a few days before Rosh Hashanah, when vandals entered the building through an unlocked door and scrawled nti-Semitic graffiti on the walls of the synagogue. Two weeks later, a van belonging to synagogue was torched in its parking lot.he 14-year-olds were charged with hate crimes and will be tried for the destruction of property in excess of $5,000. The youths were not part of ny official anti-Semitic or neo-Nazi group, according to the Office for the District Attorney for the Essex County District.

“My office takes hate crimes very seriously,” said District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett. “It is important that the community at large understand that any hate crime that’s charged will be pursued vigorously, because they must understand that we will protect people to make sure that the right message is always sent.”

Adults found guilty of a hate crime can face up to two and a half years in the state correctional facility and/or fines of up to $5,000. They can also be liable for up to three times the property damage in restitution, as well as a surcharge of $100 to be deposited in the Diversity Awareness Trust Fund and complete diversity awareness programs.

However, in the case of juveniles who are found guilty of a hate crime, the maximum penalty is commitment to the Department of Youth Services until age 18. Once the verdict is made, the Department of Youth Services then determines the appropriate punishment for the offenders.
If the juveniles are found guilty and the judge determines that the synagogue is owed restitution, they will still be able to collect despite the age of the offenders, said Assistant District Attorney Bill Melkonian. Sometimes, the parents of the offenders offer to make restitution if they are able to, added Blodgett.

At the arraignment, the juveniles entered a plea of not delinquent, the juvenile equivalent of not guilty. Two of the juveniles are scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 29, and the third on Jan. 27.

While all three juveniles were allegedly involved in hate crimes against the synagogue, not all were involved in each incident. Only one juvenile is charged with committing both the break-in to the synagogue and the torching of the van; he is being held on $2,000 cash bail. The other two are being held on $1,000 bail. The three young men were also ordered to stay away from the synagogue and the rabbi.

“The recent vandalism has been distressing, and it is comforting to know that those responsible will be brought to justice,” said Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, rabbi of the synagogue. “It is painful and disturbing that such young boys would do something like this.”

The Anti-Defamation League’s New England region responded positively to the decision to try the juveniles for hate crimes, citing the importance to community psyche that anti-Semitic crimes be pursued as hate crimes.
“It is important for the community to know that hate crimes won’t be tolerated and that the police will take these types of incidents really seriously and do a thorough investigation,” said Robert Trestan, ADL civil rights director.