Teens plead 'guilty' to cemetery destruction
By Cheryl Orson
Feb. 29, 2008

The four teenagers arrested and charged in the desecration of 499 gravestones in Poile Zedek Cemetery have pleaded guilty to all charges, including desecration, criminal mischief, and trespassing, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said.

Three of the juveniles, 15, 16, and 17, admitted to toppling 17 granite headstones on New Year's Day, then returning three days later with a fourth teen and spending upward of four hours systematically toppling and destroying row after row of the hundreds of gravestones, some weighing up to three tons, which were effected in this incident.

The three teens involved in both incidents each face two charges of conspiracy to commit desecration of venerated objects, desecration of venerated objects, and criminal mischief, while the fourth juvenile faces only single counts of each charge. They face a maximum of one year of imprisonment for each count of conspiracy and desecration, and a maximum of two years for each count of criminal mischief.

The four entered their pleas in the Family Division of Middlesex County Superior Court before Judge Jane B. Cantor. They now await further sentencing set to occur on March 17. The teens also face civil counts related to the desecration in a suit filed by a member and past president of Congregation Poile Zedek who is seeking unspecified damages from the "sacrilegious desecrators," their parents and other entities who might bear responsibility for the vandalism.

The teens, whose identities are being withheld by authorities due to their ages, are being tried as juveniles following the Prosecutor's Office determining that the vandalism "was not a hate crime." They remain in the Middlesex County Detention Center in North Brunswick. All four teens live within walking distance of Poile Zedek Cemetery and had climbed the walls to enter the site.

Community reaction to guilty pleas

"I was very pleased," said Rabbi Abraham Mykoff of Congregation Poile Zedek about the teens' pleas stating hopefully they will get the justice they deserve in terms of punishment and should be guided on how to live in the future including the dignity of mankind.

Mykoff said he believes this to be "a severe offense" with the punishment involving a period of incarceration. He also said with the guilty plea they accept the obligation of making restitution which will be attached to their sentence, though he doubts the teens will ever be able to pay the full amount for the damage they did. Mykoff also said there is the possibility of the teens being forced to participate in a special program "to reorient their perspectives and attitudes," something he said he needed far more than punishment at this point.

"They are human beings and make mistakes, but it is important to more than tap them on the hand which would be a great injustice to them, let alone society," said Mykoff.

"I am relieved," said Rabbi David Bassous of Etz Ahaim of Highland Park, which also owns a section in the cemetery that was left totally decimated by the destruction.

Stating he feels the teens should get the maximum sentence allowed under the law, he also agreed the more important part is for the juveniles to "change their ways."

"It's hard for me to think of the kids sitting seven years in jail," Bassous said, stating he hopes whatever the sentence that it "serves as a lesson to them. The fact they're getting punished should be enough that they won't do these things again."

Bassous also stressed his congregation still needs help in raising the money to repair the damage done.

"It's going to cost a fortune," said Bassous, stating insurance will not cover the full amount needed.

Damage done and looking toward the future

Of the gravestones effected, 60 of the monuments were fractured beyond repair with the total damage done estimated to be between $500,000 and $1 million.

Though no motive was given for the desecration of the nearly 500 gravestones in Poile Zedek Cemetery in New Brunswick, in a written statement provided by Kaplan and New Brunswick Deputy Police Director Anthony Caputo, it said the destruction did not appear to be motivated by bias.

Poile Zedek originally bought the cemetery from the First Baptist Church circa 1936, and conducts around 15 burials there each year. Signs now posted at the decimated cemetery warn the public not to re-erect the gravestones, one of which is estimated to weigh more than three tons, due to liability issues.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County has reported raising more than $65,000 toward the cost of repairs. Those wishing to donate can do so online at http://www.JewishMiddlesex.org or checks can be mailed to The Cemetery Fund, Congregation Etz Ahaim, 230 Dension Ave., Highland Park, NJ 08904 with "cemetery fund" written in the memo portion of the check.