NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A Queens woman is facing hate crime charges for allegedly destroying two statues in front of a Forest Hills church this summer.
Jacqueline Nikiena, 23, of Forest Hills, was arraigned on Saturday on charges of criminal mischief in the second degree as a hate crime and aggravated harassment in the first degree.
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Nikiena was seen on video approaching two statues depicting the Virgin Mary outside of Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church on Kessel Street around 3:30 a.m. on July 17.
The DA said that Nikiena then pulled the statues down to the ground and briefly dragged them on the sidewalk before breaking them into several pieces.
The statues were valued at more than $10,000.
An alleged motive was not provided by authorities.
“This defendant allegedly smashed two statues that were beloved touchstones at this Forest Hills church for decades,” Katz said in a statement. “The Virgin Mary is a sacred figure for Catholics and those of many faiths. This act struck beyond the value of broken property and deeply rattled an entire community’s sense of safety.”
If convicted, Nikiena faces five-to-15 years in prison. She is due back in court on Oct. 12.