Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Man Charged in Hate-Crime Vandalism at San Francisco Church

Prosecutors seek his detention without bail, citing pro-Nazi items, online threats, public safety risk.

Overview

  • Sadat Mousa, 51, faces two counts of felony vandalism with hate-crime enhancements, two counts of felony vandalism of a place of worship with hate-crime enhancements, felony placement of a swastika, and one misdemeanor vandalism count.
  • He briefly appeared in court Thursday after a postponed arraignment and remains in custody on $100,000 bail as prosecutors move to keep him jailed pending trial.
  • Police say he used gold spray paint and markers around 7:48 a.m. Saturday to scrawl swastikas and antisemitic and homophobic slurs on the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church and on a nearby mailbox, utility box, and parking meter, with damage exceeding $20,000.
  • Investigators report finding a carpet with a swastika and a table praising Adolf Hitler in family storage, along with social media videos echoing anti-Jewish and anti-gay rhetoric and threats toward Jewish, LGBTQ, and immigrant communities.
  • Court filings cite a 2020 conviction for criminal threats and a 2021 72-hour involuntary mental-health hold as part of the argument that he poses a significant community threat.