Orland Man In Hate Crime Case Gets Probation, Needs Anger Management

ORLAND PARK, IL — An Orland Park man charged with a hate crime earlier this year after punching his Palestinian neighbor during a dispute over garbage cans pleaded guilty to a lesser charge last week, according to court documents.

Terrence Clyne pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery in Cook County court Wednesday, with the Cook County State's Attorney's office dropping the charge of felony hate crime, according to court records.

Orland Park police in January 2024 charged Clyne with a hate crime after a Jan. 3 argument over garbage can placement led to punches being thrown. Clyne, 68, was charged with a hate crime and also battery after assaulting a neighbor and the neighbor's wife, as well as spewing insults pertaining to their Palestinian heritage, police said. The confrontation allegedly began after the victim moved garbage cans from one area of a communal driveway to another, police said.

Police said Clyne reportedly "made hateful comments" referring to the victim's Palestinian heritage in response to him moving the cans. Clyne then reportedly punched the man in the face, police said.

The victim's wife then approached in an attempt to verbally deescalate the situation, when Clyne made more hateful comments aimed at her while mentioning her Palestinian heritage and "moved toward her aggressively," police said. According to officials, the male victim then stepped between Clyne and his wife, and was again punched in the face and physically assaulted by Clyne, causing the male victim to be pushed onto the female victim.

The Cook County State’s Attorney approved two counts of misdemeanor battery, one for each victim, and one count of felony hate crime.

Clyne was sentenced to a year of probation and 20 hours of community service, the latter of which must be completed by August 2025. He also will have to pay fines, and refrain from any contact with the neighbor.

He is also required to take anger management classes.