Man Charged with Vandalizing at Least 40 NJ Church Statues
A 41-year-old man has been charged with vandalizing at least 40 religious statues in New Jersey. According to The Associated Press, the vandalism occurred outside Catholic churches in Evesham, Mount Laurel, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The authorities determined that he was the one responsible for the damage after witnesses identified him. It is unclear if the suspect confessed to the crime or if he has a history of vandalism. He is currently being held on $100,000 bail.
Defacement of private property is illegal in New Jersey. Statute 2C:33-11 states: "A person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely defaces or damages, without authorization of the owner or tenant, any private premises." In some cases, the alleged offender may be required to pay for or repair the damaged properties, as well as pay fines and perform community service. In other cases, there are potentially much more serious penalties.
The penalties for vandalism are sometimes tied to the criminal history of the defendant and the value of the items affected by the criminal act. Examples of vandalism include graffiti, theft, broken windows, damage to mailboxes, defacing gravestones, egging a property, or littering. Anyone facing penalties for these types of acts would be well advised to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney before discussing the case with the authorities.
The skilled Princeton criminal defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long history of protecting the rights of New Jersey residents. If you or a loved one is facing vandalism charges, do not hesitate to call our offices at 609-240-0040 for a free consultation.
