An elderly Jersey City couple was convicted of using ant-Muslim remarks to harass a neighbor on several occasions between 2016 and 2018.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
William Ong, 76, and Beverly Ong, 73, were each convicted of bias intimidation, a fourth-degree crime. The verdict was delivered before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Vincent J. Militello following a two-day trial.
Additionally, William Ong was found not guilty of terroristic threats. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, June 7th.
The investigation determined that the Ongs made threatening and harassing statements to a neighbor, who they believed to be Muslim, about his religion on multiple occasions between 2016 and 2018.
“Hudson County is one of the most diverse communities in the country and there is no place for hate or discrimination here, or anywhere,” Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said in a statement.
“The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to prosecuting anyone responsible for bias crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
Anyone who believes they are the victim of a bias crime is encouraged to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 201-915-1234.
The state was represented at trial by Assistant Prosecutor John Burke.
Has anyone heard of the first amendment?? There still is free speech in the county regardless of what the crackpots in Jersey say. I hope they appeal this fake conviction which is just a publicity stunt by the prosecutor’s office.