Pair charged in bias incident

HOWELL - On the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, which was Oct. 2, officers from the Howell Police Department charged two juveniles with spray-painting swastikas and profanities on a township residence.

According to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were each charged with conspiracy to commit bias intimidation, bias intimidation, criminal mischief, a disorderly persons offense, harassment and a petty disorderly persons offense.

At about 2 p.m. Oct. 2, police responded to a report of vandalism in a residential neighborhood. After finding the defaced home, law enforcement officers interviewed the victim and the victim's family members. Police said those interviews led to the arrest of the two juveniles.

The juveniles appeared before a judge on Oct. 3 for an initial hearing and were released to the custody of their parents and placed under house arrest.

Authorities said if the boys are deemed to be delinquent they could be sent for a maximum of one year in the custody of the Juvenile Justice Commission. Maximum penalties for the other charges could result in an additional seven months of custody.

"Preventing and combating bias crimes is an important goal of this office," Mon-mouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said. "The acts committed on this holy day impact our entire community. We must continue to impress upon young people the need for tolerance and greater understanding of all cultures and religions."

The press release from the prosecutor's office did not state if the two boys who were arrested are residents of Howell, nor did it say what street the incident occurred on or if the owner of the home that was vandalized is Jewish.