🔴 A Clifton man is charged with bias intimidation

🔴 Feces smearings on a school sign covered up the letters for the word 'Allah'

🔴 The investigation came after an Islamic advocacy group demanded a hate probe


PATERSON — A Clifton man is charged with bias intimidation for smearing feces across a public school sign, according to the state attorney general.

Twice last weekend, splatterings of feces appeared on the sign for the Dr. Hani Awadallah school in Paterson. The smears, which were done on April 7 and April 10, both only covered up the last five letters of Awadallah's last name.

Mohamad Bekheet, 32, was charged on Friday with bias intimidation, criminal mischief, and harassment, according to Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

Vandalized Paterson school sign on 4/7/23. (CAIR-NJ)
Vandalized Paterson school sign on 4/7/23. (CAIR-NJ)
loading...

“As bias and hate continue to rise in New Jersey, we must be vigilant in addressing these crimes immediately to hold perpetrators accountable and to send a clear message that they will not be tolerated in any capacity," Platkin said.

The investigation came after CAIR-NJ demanded a hate crime probe into the incident. A spokesperson for the group said a suspect was in custody last Monday, the same day as the second incident, but charges were not announced until Friday.

Authorities did not give specific details regarding a motive. CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said that the suspect's social media included a photo of a desecrated Qur’an and a post calling Palestinians "misguided."

(NJOAG, Townsquare Media)
(NJOAG, Townsquare Media)
loading...

Platkin said that fourth-degree bias intimidation carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison and a fine of $10,000.

Defense attorney information for Bekheet was not immediately available.

Rick Rickman is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at richard.rickman@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

LOOK: Here are the states where you are most likely to hit an animal

Hitting an animal while driving is a frightening experience, and this list ranks all 50 states in order of the likelihood of such incidents happening, in addition to providing tips on how to avoid them.

Up or down? Average property tax changes in NJ in 2022

Below are the average property tax bills for every municipality in New Jersey last year.

The towns are listed from the biggest cut in the average bill to the highest increase. On the county maps, the deeper red color means a higher increase above 2% whereas the darker green signifies a smaller increase or a reduction.

Each listing also shows how the average tax bill is split among the county, school and municipal governments.

Biggest NJ company layoff notices in 2022 and 2023

In some cases, workers may be offered back their jobs or transfers to different locations. 

Here’s a look at more than a dozen of the biggest announcements within two years.

More From Lite 96.9 WFPG