A Houston, Texas woman is being prosecuted after allegedly repeatedly breaking into and terrorizing a synagogue, even missing a court date for one incident to continue harassing the Jewish house of worship.
Ezra Law first appeared at the Congregation Emanu El temple in Houston last week, according to Harris County prosecutors. She was seen on the pulpit by a rabbi who was arriving to prepare for a bar mitzvah ceremony on January 14.
Assistant Harris County District Attorney Erica Winsor said Law had allegedly vandalized the synagogue, damaging certain objects and creating a general state of disarray, Click2Houston reported.
"There were several religious items that had been removed from their place. Some were damaged, there was red wine that had been consumed and also spilled. Most importantly, there was a Torah scroll that was removed from the Holy Arc and spread out on the floor. And there was red wine that was spilled on that scroll."
Assistant DA Erica Winsor
"The damage is immeasurable," Winsor said. "There were several religious items that had been removed from their place. Some were damaged, there was red wine that had been consumed and also spilled. Most importantly, there was a Torah scroll that was removed from the Holy Arc and spread out on the floor. And there was red wine that was spilled on that scroll."
Law was quickly arrested, but prosecutors say instead of showing up to court for her arraignment Friday, she returned to the congregation where she then allegedly screamed and shouted at preschool children. She left before officials could arrive.
Law currently faces a charge of felony criminal mischief inside a place of worship. Prosecutors are working to determine whether her actions are a hate crime and are evaluating her mental state before determining a jail sentence.
The state of Texas defines a hate crime as "a criminal act committed against a person or person's property that is motivated by bias against a person's or group's race, color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, sexual preference, gender identity and expression, or status as a peace officer or judge."
Contrary to initial claims by the group Stop Antisemitism which we reported, we have been contacted by Jews for Jesus who have stated that Law is not affiliated with their movement.