Man Accused of Defacing Religious Artifacts Pleads Guilty
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DOWNTOWN JACKSON — A man accused of defacing religious items while working as a security guard at a local hotel entered a guilty plea, Monday. Justin Shawn Baker, 25, pleaded guilty to Vandalism and Civil Rights Intimidation, which are both Class D felonies. According to a news release from the Jackson Police Department, they were called to the DoubleTree Hotel on Jan. 12 about a vandalism that happened in one of their meeting rooms overnight. Items belonging to the Margolin Hebrew Academy were reported as being vandalized. Officers found that several books, musical instruments, electronics and a Torah scroll as well as several religious venerated items to be used in religious ceremonies were marked on, torn or otherwise damaged and defiled. The total values of damaged property were determined to be more than $10,000. Investigators determined that the crimes were specifically directed at the objects representing the Jewish faith. This incident was opportunistic in nature and limited to the involvement of Baker Baker remains free from jail on $100,000 bond and could face a sentence of a 2 to 4 years. He will be sentenced on Dec. 30 in Circuit Court Div. 1
