Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Antisemitic Graffiti: Nassau DA

EAST MEADOW, NY — An East Meadow man pleaded guilty to charges in connection with spray painting antisemitic graffiti in front of a Jewish center last April, prosecutors said.

Sebastian Patino Caceres, 23, pleaded guilty on Thursday to fourth-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

As part of his plea, Patino Caceres must undergo six months of bias prevention training, 100 hours of community service and take a guided tour of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove, Donnelly announced.

If he completes the conditions of his plea, Patino Caceres will be sentenced to a misdemeanor with three years of probation. If he is unsuccessful, Donnelly said, the felony charge will remain and he'll be sentenced to five years of probation.

"Antisemitism will never be tolerated by my office or by Nassau County," Donnelly said. "My prosecutors held this defendant responsible for his offensive actions with this plea to a felony hate crime, but with the understanding that punitive measures alone will not stop this intolerant behavior. It is through education and awareness that we can teach defendants about the gravity of their words and actions, change minds, promote kindness and compassion, and heal communities."

On April 14 and 15, 2024, Patino Caceres spray-painted several antisemitic phrases on PVC fencing of the rear yards of private homes along Merrick Avenue. The phrases included “Zionism is Nazism,” “Stop the Genocide,” “Free Palestine,” and “F*** Israel," Donnelly said.

Patino Caceres also spray-painted "Free Palestine" across the front cement sidewalk of the East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center.

"I applaud District Attorney Donnelly for following through on her commitment to fighting intolerance by securing a felony hate crime for this blatant display of antisemitism," said Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin.

He is due back in court on March 7.