A New York judge has set bail for a man who allegedly committed several acts of vandalism across the Bronx.
Jordan Burnette, 29, faces 42 charges as he terrorized Riverdale’s Jewish community.
The the actions of the Bronx judge has raised eyebrows because Burnette had been due to be released under the state’s new bail reform laws. Instead he must now post $30,000 bail.
29-year-old Jordan Burnette was arrested in connection with a rash of hate crimes in the Bronx
Police arrested him Saturday morning as he was riding a bike stolen from a synagogue
Burnette is alleged to have vandalized four synagogues in Riverdale, threw rocks through synagogue windows last weekend and also broke windows of parked cars
Among the more than 40 charges are a number of hate crime-related offenses after Burnette allegedly smashed windows at various synagogues in the area.
Over the course of 11 days, Burnette allegedly destroyed the doors and windows of local synagogues and poured hand sanitizer over some prayer books. The windows of cars parked nearby were also smashed.
The carnage began when the suspect allegedly hurled large rocks at two Bronx synagogues, Chabad of Riverdale and Riverdale Jewish Center.
The following night it’s alleged the same suspect returned to cause more damage at the same two Jewish houses of worship.
Jordan Burnette took part in a virtual arraignment having been charged Saturday with burglary as a hate crime
The doors and windows at several Riverdale synagogues were smashed in recent weeks and a vandal was caught on camera hurling stones at the Riverdale Jewish Center, pictured above
The NYPD released images, above left and right, of the person suspected of hurling large rocks at four synagogues in The Bronx last week
He is also said to have attacked the Conservative Synagogue and Young Israel of Riverdale, which are based in the Bronx too.
Significant damage was caused to all four synagogues as a result, an NYPD spokesman said at the time.
The attacks come a year after worrying statistics revealed anti-Semitic hate attacks in New York and New Jersey had hit a 40 year high.
Surveillance cameras captured the perpetrator – seen in a camo coat and face mask.
The man was ultimately pulled over by cops as he biked against traffic. The bike he was found to have been rising was stolen from outside one of the synagogues, it is alleged.
Clear surveillance footage then captured Burnette walking away from the area
Police say surveillance, stakeouts and patrol all helped lead to the arrest
Judge Nock set Burnette’s bail at $30,000 for a partially secured bond or $20,000 cash. His attorney argued that he should be released without any bail whatsoever
Prosecutors at the Bronx Criminal Court arraignment pointed out that such crimes were not on the list that would be eligible for bail – essentially asserting that the ‘shattering of glass’ was a violent felony.
‘Given the number of attacks, we probably would have asked for substantial bail before January of 2020,’ Assistant District Attorney Theresa Gottlieb told Judge Louis Nock during the virtual hearing.
‘The legislature did not include hate crimes in its revision of bail reform and under the law as it exists today, this is not eligible,’ she added. ‘We will not violate the law.’
Judge Nock set Burnette’s bail at $30,000 for a partially secured bond or $20,000 cash.
‘I’ve taken a very close look at the law,’ Nock explained. ‘Given the gravity and the number of charges he’s facing, this court is inclined to set bail.’
Burnette’s attorney attempted to keep him from being placed behind bars.
‘Your honor, according to the bail law, none of the charges in this case apply,’ Morgan Everhart protested. ‘These are all nonviolent charges.’
‘I appreciate your effort. I hope I am correct,’ Judge Nock replied.
Burnette’s attorney attempted to keep him from being placed behind bars but failed
Judge Nock also barred the media from speaking with Burnette upon his release.
‘I am objecting to any press being here at this time. I object to any photographs being taken of the defendant,’ his lawyer, Everhart, told the judge.
‘I am not able to be in the courthouse with him. I ask that you not allow the press to question him without counsel present.’
If attacks that occur do not injure others, they are supposed to be exempt from bail under New York state’s bail reform law that was enacted last year.
Those offenses can cover a whole range of incidents including misdemeanors and some felonies.
‘He is being charged with burglary as a hate crime and also faces numerous charges relating to the many acts of vandalism as hate crimes that have taken place in this community,’ said NYPD Deputy Inspector Jessica Corey, of the Hate Crimes Task Force during a Saturday press conference.
‘This has been going on for a few days. This was a department-wide effort,’ said John Miller, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism.
‘Hopefully life will resume back to normal and people will be able to worship without fear.’
A Press briefing by NYPD Deputy Inspector Jessica Corey at 50th Precinct was held on Saturday in regards to arrest of suspect in recent vandalism of synagogues in the Bronx
Police stand guard in front of one of the Jewish-related buildings in the Bronx as the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigated the incidents
More than 400 nonviolent offenders have been able to walk free without having to post bail according to figures seen by the New York Post.
In May, a report by the Anti-Defamation League found there had been more than 2,100 anti-Semitic incidents around the US in 2019, the highest number since the group started tracking data in 1979.
It found New York had the highest rate of anti-Semitic crimes of any state in the country.
More than half of the attacks recorded in New York City in 2019 took place in Brooklyn, the ADL report found.
A rash of attacks in 2020 were feared to be linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jewish people had masks ripped off their faces and suffered verbal abuse in several recorded incidents.
At the time, the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt said many of the attacks were filmed and posted online, resulting in copycat incidents.
The Riverdale Jewish Center in The Bronx is pictured where a suspect hurled rocks, smashing windows and doors over two nights
The attacks drew swift condemnation from Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Unit was close to identifying the suspect in a Tweet last weekend
