Mobile, Alabama Man Indicted ... Related to Desecration of Synagogue

Mobile, Alabama Man Indicted on Federal Civil Rights and Weapons Charges Related to Desecration of Synagogue

WASHINGTON—The Justice Department today announced that a federal grand jury in Mobile, Ala., has returned a three-count indictment charging Thomas Hayward Lewis, 24, of Mobile, with violating and conspiring to violate the civil rights of congregants of the Congregation Tree of Life Messianic Synagogue in Mobile, as well as possession of an unregistered firearm.

The indictment alleges that on or about the night of Jan. 3, 2009, Lewis spray painted the Tree of Life Synagogue with anti-Semitic graffiti and neo-Nazi markings. The indictment further alleges that prior to the incident, Lewis and a co-conspirator, Christian Rodney Ice, conspired to deface and desecrate the synagogue. Lewis’s co-conspirator has already pleaded guilty in federal court in Mobile to one count of violating the Church Arson Act by placing threatening graffiti and neo-Nazi markings on the Congregation Tree of Life Messianic Synagogue.

“Religious freedom is a basic civil right, and threats against religious institutions and their members will not be tolerated in this country,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “This case should send a clear message to others who would carry out similar criminal acts that we will vigorously pursue all responsible parties and all will be held accountable for their actions.”

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to the protection of our citizens’ civil rights. The United States Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of religion is one of our citizen’s most sacred civil rights,” said U.S. Attorney Kenyen R. Brown for the Southern District of Alabama.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the civil rights charges.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the city of Mobile, Ala., Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George May of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Donald Tunnage of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.

Previously...

Quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2481502/posts

Mobile, Alabama Man Pleads Guilty...Charges Related to Desecration of Synagogue
Mobile.FBI.gov - DOJ Press Release ^ | March 26, 2010 | n/a
Posted on March 27, 2010 10:06:22 PM PDT by Cindy

Note: The following text is a quote:

Mobile, Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges Related to Desecration of Synagogue

WASHINGTON—Christian Rodney Ice, 19, of Mobile, Ala., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Mobile to one count of violating the Church Arson Act by placing threatening graffiti and neo-Nazi markings on a synagogue in Mobile, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Alabama announced. Sentencing has been scheduled for Sept. 23, 2010. Ice faces a maximum prison sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

During the plea proceedings and in documents filed in court, Ice admitted that during the late night and early morning hours of Jan. 3-4, 2009, he and an associate used spray paint to place anti-Semitic graffiti and neo-Nazi markings on the Congregation Tree of Life Messianic Synagogue in Mobile. The graffiti and markings included the German words “Juden Raus” (“Jews Out”), and the statement “Hitler was right.”

“Threats against religious institutions and their members will not be tolerated in this country,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “This case should send a clear message to others who would carry out similar criminal acts that they will be brought to justice and held accountable for their actions.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to stamp out hate crimes and instances of bigotry,” said Kenyen R. Brown, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.

The case was investigated by special agents from the Mobile Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Mobile Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George May of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Donald Tunnage of the Civil Rights Division.

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