Friday, September 03, 2010

Aryan Guard Member Pleads Guilty in Vandalism/Hate Crime Case

Back in November and just before the attempted IED attack on a member of WEB and his then girlfriend, we discussed the anti-Semitic vandalism that took place against several Jewish centres, a mail box and at least one home. Although the surveillance pictures didn't provide us with a lot to go with, we were sent a note from a trusted source that at least one of those people was a member of the Aryan Guard. We later learned that it was the same 17 year old who had fled Calgary along with Kyle McKee who was a prime suspect in the IED attack that occurred a few days after the vandalism took place. McKee was captured in Winnipeg in December (and returned to Calgary a little later) to face trial. The 17 year old was taken into custody in Winnipeg on the vandalism and hate charges in March 2010.

Today that individual plead guilty:
Calgary teen's hate crime conviction a 1st 
Last Updated: Friday, September 3, 2010 | 11:59 AM MT
CBC News
 
A teen who admitted spraying anti-Jewish slogans in southwest Calgary is the first person in the city to be convicted of a hate crime, according to police. 
Anti-Semitic graffiti and swastikas were spray-painted on a Holocaust memorial and a synagogue in Pump Hill and Woodbine in November 2009 — crimes captured by video surveillance cameras.
A 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was caught in Winnipeg in March on a Canada-wide warrant and taken back to Calgary.
 
He was charged with inciting public hatred and with mischief to a place of religious worship, motivated by hate — the first time that charge has been laid in Calgary, police said. The teen also faced one count of mischief to property. 
Now 18, he pleaded guilty to the charges in youth court. 
Jewish community leaders welcomed news of the conviction, saying it sends a strong message that spreading hate will not be tolerated. 
Sentencing was set for Oct. 15. 
And so goes yet another member of the Aryan Guard. As we've mentioned in the past, while the Aryan Guard and their offshoot WEB complain about minority-based crime, one if far more likely to be victimized by the Aryan Guard or WEB than a member of any particular ethnic group. We wonder what the incarceration rate for Aryan Guard members is up to now?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Some small good news.