NEW JERSEY (1010 WINS) — An elderly New Jersey couple was convicted after terrorizing their neighbor for years with anti-muslim threats and harassing statements, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
The Jersey City duo, 76-year-old William Ong and 73-year-old Beverly Ong, were arrested in September 2018 after an investigation determined they made threatening and harassing statements to their neighbor, who they believed to be Muslim, about his religion on multiple occasions between 2016 and 2018.
At the time, police said William Ong imitated shooting his neighbor with his finger. He also pointed at the victim’s children, who were 3-and-7 years old, and made a slashing motion with his finger across his own throat, NJ Advance reported. then ran his finger in a slashing motion across his own throat. Beverly Ong also called the victim “dirty” and told him “you are going to rot in hell,” according to police.
“Hudson County is one of the most diverse communities in the country and there is no place for hate or discrimination here, or anywhere,” Suarez said. “The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to prosecuting anyone responsible for bias crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
Both Ongs were found guilty of bias intimidation after a two-day trial. The couple is scheduled to be sentenced on June 7.
Beverly Ong was previously acquitted of a similar offense in 2012 along with her daughter. Both were convicted of harassing and damaging the property of their Iranian neighbor.
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