A New Jersey man was sentenced to eight years in jail after being caught on digital camera “harassing and utilizing racial slurs in opposition to a number of of his neighbors,” based on a press launch from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Workplace.
Edward C. Mathews was sentenced Friday after a police investigation that started in 2021 revealed “a sample of abuse from Mathews in opposition to his neighbors that included leaving a threatening notice on considered one of their automobiles,” the prosecutor’s workplace stated.
Police started the investigation into the 47-year-old after legislation enforcement discovered him “utilizing racial slurs whereas engaged in a verbal altercation with 4 residents,” the discharge stated.
Mathews was captured on a neighbor’s doorbell digital camera in July 2021 thrusting his hips in a lewd movement whereas laughing and looking out on the digital camera. He’s additionally heard saying “f***ng monkey.”
The neighbor is a Black girl who’s on the home-owner’s affiliation board (HOA) and informed police Mathews known as her racial slurs over the previous few months, based on an affidavit.
The affidavit states Mathew’s actions have been an try and intimidate her into transferring out of the neighborhood.
Mathews pleaded responsible in October to 4 counts of bias intimidation, in addition to drug offense expenses after psilocin mushrooms, a kind of hallucinogenic mushroom, have been discovered inside his house, based on the prosecutor’s workplace press launch.
Mathews begged for leniency throughout his sentencing listening to, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He stated he accepted duty and apologized to the victims for “my insensitive and disrespectful phrases up to now,” the Inquirer reported.
He should spend at the least 4 years in jail earlier than he’s eligible for parole, the decide dominated, based on Joel Bewley, public info officer for the Burlington County Prosecutors workplace.
“Our workplace is dedicated to combatting bias crimes and sending a transparent message that such actions won’t be tolerated in our neighborhood,” Burlington County Prosecutor Bradshaw stated in an announcement. “No one ought to must endure what these victims skilled.”
CNN’s Zenebou Sylla contributed to this report.
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