[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/vandalism-at-cinnaminson-church-may-result-in-criminal-charges\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/vandalism-at-cinnaminson-church-may-result-in-criminal-charges\/","headline":"Vandalism at Cinnaminson Church May Result in Criminal Charges","name":"Vandalism at Cinnaminson Church May Result in Criminal Charges","description":"Authorities from the Cinnaminson Police Department are currently investigating a vandalism incident at a local church that has been deemed a \u201cbias crime.\u201d The incident in question occurred just after 3:00 o\u2019 clock in the morning on Sunday, May 7th, at Saint Charles Church, located at 2500 Branch Pike in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Surveillance video […]","datePublished":"2017-05-11","dateModified":"2026-01-08","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/author\/njcriminallawdefense\/#Person","name":"William Fay, Esq.","url":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/author\/njcriminallawdefense\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e9869b68803369cd82f0d8d684c730be056db7c94e3ce06af05f80bee316c35?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e9869b68803369cd82f0d8d684c730be056db7c94e3ce06af05f80bee316c35?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Law Offices of William C. Fay IV","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Logo-footer-vector.svg","url":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Logo-footer-vector.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/cinnaminson-criminal-mischief.jpg","url":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/cinnaminson-criminal-mischief.jpg","height":606,"width":768},"url":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/vandalism-at-cinnaminson-church-may-result-in-criminal-charges\/","about":["Property Offenses"],"wordCount":601,"articleBody":"Authorities from the Cinnaminson Police Department are currently investigating a vandalism incident at a local church that has been deemed a \u201cbias crime.\u201dThe incident in question occurred just after 3:00 o\u2019 clock in the morning on Sunday, May 7th, at Saint Charles Church, located at 2500 Branch Pike in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Surveillance video at the church captured the crime, during which a male suspect threw rocks at the front door several times.\u00a0The man, who remains unidentified, appears to be a white male with a beard and long brown hair,\u00a0fastened in a bun at the time.At approximately 7:00 a.m., maintenance workers at the church discovered broken glass in the front door. Shortly thereafter, Cinnaminson police received another report of a brick thrown through a window at another church, specifically, the\u00a0New Apostolic Church located at Branch Pike and Pomona Road.\u00a0Officials believe that these were \u201cbias crimes\u201d and have asked that anyone with information regarding the incidents or the suspect immediately contact Cinnaminson Police at 856-829-6667, extension 2061\u00a0or the anonymous tip line at 1-800-78-Crime.If investigators ultimately identify and charge a suspect in connection with this case, he may face\u00a0criminal charges\u00a0for a hate crime, criminal mischief, and other offenses.What is a Bias Crime in New Jersey?In New Jersey, a bias crime, often referred to as a \u201chate crime,\u201d can refer to any illegal conduct that is intended to\u00a0intimidate or threaten a person\u00a0or group based on\u00a0race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity. The most common hate crime is known as\u00a0\u201cBias Intimidation,\u201d which is discussed in New Jersey Statute\u00a02C:16-1. According to this statute, bias intimidation can refer to any offense outlined in chapters 11 through 18 of the New Jersey Criminal Code that is committed or attempted with the purpose of intimidating the victim. The underlying offense in a bias intimidation case can range from simple assault, to criminal mischief,\u00a0harassment,\u00a0aggravated assault, and terroristic threats. Notably, a person convicted of bias intimidation will face separate penalties in connection with the underlying offense if they are found guilty of both crimes. In other words, a charge for bias intimidation does not prevent you from also being charged with harassment, assault, criminal mischief, etc.New Jersey Criminal Mischief ChargesIn this case, the underlying offense is known as\u00a0criminal mischief (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3). Criminal mischief\u00a0offenses generally involve property damage. In New Jersey, you can be charged with criminal mischief for purposely or knowingly damaging the tangible property of another or damaging another\u2019s property recklessly or negligently in the employment of fire, explosives or other dangerous means. Criminal mischief charges vary in terms of the degree of these crimes, based on the estimated value of the property damage, the nature of the property, and the results of the damage, meaning was anyone hurt or killed; or was their a disruption of a public utility or service as a result of the offense?In cases involving bias crimes and criminal mischief offenses, the consequences can be severe. It is essential to protect yourself, which is why having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side can spell the difference between a positive and negative outcome. If you are facing charges in South Jersey, criminal defense attorney\u00a0William Fay is available to answer your questions with a cost-free consultation. Simply call\u00a0609-850-8284 anytime to discuss your case.To watch the video and learn more about this case, access the following link:\u00a0Cops looking for guy with man-bun who vandalized church."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Vandalism at Cinnaminson Church May Result in Criminal Charges","item":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/vandalism-at-cinnaminson-church-may-result-in-criminal-charges\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]