A Brick woman was charged for Bias Intimidation against a victim through Facebook.
Denise Scaltrito, age 48, of Brick Township was arrested and charged with Harassment and Bias Intimidation.
Scaltrito is accused of sending threatening and offensive messages to the victim, via Facebook Messenger. The messages included the “KKK is alive and well in Brick,” and that “the victim should move.” Additional messages included references to the ARYN Brotherhood and derogatory comments regarding the victim’s race.
Prosecutor Billhimer stated “it is against the law to intimidate someone based on their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, disability or gender identity/expression. This type of behavior is on the rise, especially on social media. Individuals that exploit hatred, intolerance and prejudice with a purpose to intimidate will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Brick Police Chief James Riccio stated that “The Brick Township Police Department will investigate all allegations of bias intimidation thoroughly. This type of language directed at an individual with a purpose to intimidate will not be tolerated.”
Scaltrito was processed at Brick Township Police Headquarters and released on a summons pending a future court date.
Unless there was a threat i dont think LEO has any legs to stand on, although disgusting and abhorrent we do have the freedom of speech hate speech by itself is not a crime unless its accompanied with threats
@Avi
Saying the “KKK is alive and well in Brick” followed by telling the person to move doesn’t sound like a threat to you? It only isn’t a threat to you if you aren’t part of the religion or race who have been a victim of the KKK or don’t know what the KKK ideology is.
And as the article states… those were only some of the messages.
Threatening anyone with any sort of harm is considered a terroristic threat in NJ and is a serious crime. That is, threats of violence or coercion are not protected speech.
@ anon well said!
@ avis smh I’m sure if it was the other way around you wouldn’t feel the same way ( let this be in lakewood) I’m sure you would have a different opinion
Every person is built the same no one should be treated differently
Well said: we are all the same. There is something mentally wrong with 48 year old women to post such a nasty post on facebook.
Harassment are and bias intimidation are crimes in NJ. It’s that simple.
Now let’s hope the OCP starts to prosecute some of the more egregious haters in Toms River and Jackson who post online hate about Lakewood Jews and suggest that we are vermin – such Hitler type talk is the ultimate in criminal harassment.
If you are a participant in a local online forum and someone in your forum calls Jews rats or lice or cockroaches (as many do) or suggests that we all go to jail or are crooks, or that we be kicked out of Ocean County and you feel that that person is trying to intimidate you – that is likely criminal intimidation and harassment – report it and ask for charges to be filed.