Charges Filed In Church Hate Speech Case
Authorities arrested a juvenile, whose age hasn’t been released, for allegedly vandalizing a church with racial slurs as well as other offensive language.
Several building signs and structures, including the Jesus is Lord Church on Pineapple Avenue, along with city-owned properties, were defaced with hate speech, racial slurs, and other forms of offensive language and symbolism, authorities said.
Investigators collaborated with the Brevard County School District and community members to identify the child responsible. The child was arrested on April 4. 2025, and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Further investigation showed that the juvenile had done something similar on Jan. 20 in a neighborhood near Parkway Drive and Stewart Road in Melbourne, according to police.
Hate Crimes Enhancement
Florida was one of the last U.S. states to pass a hate crime law. As is the case in most other jurisdictions, “hate” is not an element of Florida’s hate crimes law. Instead, the Section 775.085 enhancement applies if a defendant targets an alleged victim because of that alleged victim’s membership in a protected class, such as:
- Non-male,
- Nonwhite,
- Foreign birthplace,
- English proficiency,
- Religious preference, and
- Age (usually over 65).
So, if Julia runs a telemarketing scam that targets seniors, prosecutors could add a hate crimes enhancement, even though Julia doesn’t harbor any animosity towards older people.
The hate crime enhancement usually bumps the charges up one level (a second-degree misdemeanor becomes a first-degree misdemeanor, a first-degree misdemeanor becomes a third-degree felony, and so on).
Additionally, if a conviction includes a hate crimes enhancement, officials sometimes place the defendant’s name in a database. What happens after that is anyone’s guess.
The hate crimes enhancement is very easy to prove. So, rather than focusing on the enhancement, a West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer usually focuses on the underlying offense. For example, in Julia’s case, an unreliable tipster, such as a disgruntled employee, may have given information to police. Unreliable tips are inadmissible, even if the information itself is accurate.
Juvenile Justice Nuts and Bolts
Once the case in the above story goes to court, the proceedings will take place in an environment that’s very different from adult criminal court.
The same criminal laws apply to everyone, regardless of English proficiency level, young (or advanced) age, or any other status. However, accommodations apply. For example, when police officers Mirandize Luis (you have the right to remain silent, etc.), they must read these warnings in a language Luis understands.
Significant accommodations apply in juvenile cases. Juvenile court is basically a hybrid between criminal court and family court. So, the overall approach is different. Criminal courts often focus solely on punishment. Juvenile courts emphasize rehabilitation.
Caregivers must be involved in the rehabilitation process. They must comply with court orders to jump through hoops like attending parenting classes. If they take the initiative to do these things without being told, that’s even better.
Juvenile and criminal courts are very similar in other ways. A West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer nearly always resolves juvenile and adult criminal cases out of court.
In juvenile court, if the defendant faces nonviolent charges, the court often remands the defendant into the custody of the (hopefully) new and improved caregivers. In violent crime cases, the defendant usually spends some time at a secure halfway house.
Connect With a Hard-Working Palm Beach County Lawyer
Criminal cases usually involve procedural, substantive, and/or procedural defenses. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in West Palm Beach, contact William Wallshein P.A. Attorney William Wallshein has more than 41 years of experience, including five years as a prosecutor in Palm Beach County.
Source:
fox35orlando.com/news/child-arrested-vandalizing-florida-church-hate-speech-racial-slurs-police
