A Florida man who broke into a mosque and smashed windows and lights with a machete -- and then left bacon at the scene -- was sentenced to 15 years in prison this week.
Michael Wolfe, of Titusville, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief to a place of worship on Tuesday. The sentence, which has a hate crime enhancement, will be followed by 15 years of probation, and Wolfe will not be allowed to visit the Islamic Society of Central Florida Masjid Al-Munin Mosque in Titusville, the Brevard and Seminole County state attorney’s office said.
“The Florida Muslim Community is suffering an unprecedented number of hate crimes,” Wilfredo Ruiz, a spokesman for Florida’s Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement Wednesday. “Multiple mosques and Islamic institutions have been broken into, vandalized and even set on fire.”
Prosecutors told Florida Today the plea deal was reached after speaking with CAIR and Titusville police.
"The intent is to really deter similar kinds of hate crime. After what we've seen in Texas at the church, this is needed," Imam Muhammad Musri, who oversees a network of mosques in the area, told the newspaper.
Bacon was left at the front door of the mosque, the Associated Press reported, and in Islam, consumption of pork or products made from it is forbidden.
“He entered a plea deal and pleaded guilty to vandalizing the mosque itself with hate crime enhancement, making it a felony,” said a spokesman for the State Attorney’s Office Todd Brown.
Muslims are citizens of America now too you cant go around harassing people. Honestly we need another Obama to deter people like this, America is a land for everyone and we cant have assholes like this guy trying to make people feel unwelcome.
Xavier Bell
Now you know guys. You're going to get 15 years for nothing. May as well kill a few muds next time.
Jaxson Sanchez
tfw punishment unproportional to crime but one less chad on the streets.
Blake Fisher
>Multiple mosques and Islamic institutions have been broken into, vandalized and even set on fire. Maybe they should take the fucking hint.
Angel Roberts
>he entered a plea deal
That means they tried to give him some 25 years for this shit originally
Michael Ross
>Can't have people making others feel unwelcome. >Literally saying this man is unwelcome. You are the zombies, user. [spoiler]But I bet you can't see it.[/spoiler]
Juan Nguyen
B-b-but he is spreading hate. W-w-we hate it! So he should leave!
Nolan Ortiz
Every single time this is posted here you leave out details. He didn't just put bacon on the front door. He was a previous felon that was armed when he broke in through a window and smashed the place to bits. The bacon only made it clear it was a hate crime and not just some drunken asshole move. He'd have gotten a massive sentence either way.
Jose Price
>massive sentence either way. 15 fucking years for property damage.
Julian Wilson
Christ
Kevin Lee
Florida still has a 3 strike rule. He had 2 priors. 15 years is required.
Michael Cox
and a week ago an illegal immigrant got off scotch free for murdering a girl in California
Michael Wilson
I knew Florida had the largest British population of any Americunt state but I didn’t know the judges were brits too.
