Scott F. Cooney, 36, of Lakewood, NJ, today entered a guilty plea before Judge James M. Blaney, J.S.C. to one count of Bias Intimidation in the 4th degree. He will be sentenced on August 21, 2015. The Prosecutor’s office is seeking 15 months in New Jersey State Prison. The No Contact Order is still in effect for the defendant to refrain from further contact with the two victims. The defendant was facing a maximum of 18 months New Jersey State Prison, if he were to go to trial and be convicted of the charge.

The plea stems from Cooney’s August 13, 2014 arrest.

On August 10, 2014, the victims reported that they had been victimized by Cooney for several months. The story was first published by TLS.

They alleged that Cooney had on many occasions verbally harassed and threatened them. They alleged further that at approximately 1:30 pm on the 10th they observed Cooney on their front yard using what appeared to be a lead pipe to carve something into their lawn. The victims, not wanting to provoke a confrontation, stayed safely within their home. Once Cooney departed they went outside to find that he had carved a swastika into the lawn. The victims took a photo and immediately responded to the Lakewood Police Department.

Lakewood Police Detective Leroy Marshall conducted the investigation that subsequently led to Cooney’s arrest. Just after 11am on August 13, 2014, Det. Marshall and Lakewood Police Sgt. Greg Staffordsmith located Cooney at his residence on East Dorchester Drive in Leisure Village and executed the arrest warrant. At the time of his arrest, Judge Francis R. Hodgson, Jr, J.S.C. set bail at $25,000. Cooney initially posted bail; however it was revoked for violating the No Contact Order. Cooney has remained incarcerated since his bail revocation on June 5, 2015.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Heidi Tannenbaum-Newman.

[TLS]