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VANDALISM, BUT NO HATE CRIME CHARGE IN ATTACK ON ARMENIAN CHURCH
Los Angeles Times
Aug 13 2010
A man who allegedly used a sledgehammer to smash a religious monument
outside St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church faces felony vandalism
charges -- but not hate crime charges.
Victor Petrescu appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court in
Glendale to answer to a list of charges that included felony vandalism
of religious property. It included an enhancement charge for damage
exceeding more than $50,000 - a misdemeanor count of possessing a
sledgehammer with the intent to commit vandalism and graffiti, and
having a suspended and revoked driver's license, Glendale Police Sgt.
Tom Lorenz said.
He pleaded not guilty.
Petrescu remained in custody in lieu of $160,000 bail.
Glendale police had presented the case as a possible hate crime, but
a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office
said prosecutors settled with the felony vandalism charges.
"After reviewing the evidence, we felt that these were the appropriate
charges," spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
If additional evidence is presented in the future, prosecutors may
reevaluate the charges, she added.
Glendale Police Chief Ron De Pompa said that if investigators uncovered
additional evidence of a hate-motivated crime, "we will absolutely
be requesting the district attorney to file those charges and amend
appropriately."
From: A. Papazian
Los Angeles Times
Aug 13 2010
A man who allegedly used a sledgehammer to smash a religious monument
outside St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church faces felony vandalism
charges -- but not hate crime charges.
Victor Petrescu appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court in
Glendale to answer to a list of charges that included felony vandalism
of religious property. It included an enhancement charge for damage
exceeding more than $50,000 - a misdemeanor count of possessing a
sledgehammer with the intent to commit vandalism and graffiti, and
having a suspended and revoked driver's license, Glendale Police Sgt.
Tom Lorenz said.
He pleaded not guilty.
Petrescu remained in custody in lieu of $160,000 bail.
Glendale police had presented the case as a possible hate crime, but
a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office
said prosecutors settled with the felony vandalism charges.
"After reviewing the evidence, we felt that these were the appropriate
charges," spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
If additional evidence is presented in the future, prosecutors may
reevaluate the charges, she added.
Glendale Police Chief Ron De Pompa said that if investigators uncovered
additional evidence of a hate-motivated crime, "we will absolutely
be requesting the district attorney to file those charges and amend
appropriately."
From: A. Papazian