In a recent development, a Michigan man has been formally accused of vandalizing one of the state's oldest synagogues with a swastika back in 2019. The incident occurred at Temple Jacob in Hancock, located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Twenty-three-year-old Nathan Weeden from Houghton now faces federal charges of conspiracy against rights and damaging religious property. Following his arrest in Saline, located in southeastern Michigan, Weeden was released on bond and entered a not-guilty plea.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten emphasized the importance of safeguarding individuals from hate crimes, stating that no one should be targeted due to their race, ethnicity, religion, or any other characteristic.
While Weeden's attorney has been contacted for a statement, no response has been received yet.
The reason behind the nearly four-year delay between the act of vandalism and the indictment remains unclear. Tiffany Brown, a spokeswoman for Totten, stated that she could not provide details regarding charging decisions.
This incident follows a similar case from 2021, where Richard Tobin, a New Jersey resident, received a one-year prison sentence for orchestrating the defacement of Temple Jacob and another synagogue in Racine, Wisconsin. Tobin confessed to his affiliation with a white supremacist organization.
Temple Jacob, the target of this hate crime, was originally constructed in 1912.
