Man Pleads Not Guilty To Hate Crimes, Weapons Charges
VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — A man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to hate crime, vandalism and weapons charges after allegedly vandalizing a San Fernando Valley plumbing business twice with anti-Semitic graffiti.
Amos Hason, 49, is looking at three weapons-related felony counts filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
The City Attorney's Office had previously charged Hason with three misdemeanor counts of vandalism along with three counts of a hate crime.
"This case is a stark reminder that there is still hate in our society and we must strike back against it every time it emerges," City Attorney Mike Feuer said.
Hason is alleged by prosecutors to have driven to a Jewish-owned Van Nuys plumbing business twice since March, and painted swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti, including, "Adolf was right. Kill Jews!" on a rear fence and dumpster in the business' back.
Authorities say the vandalism was captured by a surveillance camera.
Hason, who was arrested over the weekend, has twice been convicted on weapons possession charges in the past, according to the City Attorney's Office.
His bail was increased Tuesday from $68,000 to $100,000, according to prosecutors.
A pretrial hearing is set for May 16 in the weapons case, and for May 23 for a hearing on the misdemeanor charges.
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)