Photo: Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
The New Jersey man who was caught on camera going on a racist rant against his Black neighbors was sentenced, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Edward C. Mathews, 47, was handed an eight-year prison sentence on Friday (December 8) after a viral video in 2021 showed him hurling racial slurs at Black residents, who claim the harassment went on for months in the Essex Place condominium association in Mount Laurel, which is 17 miles east of Philadelphia.
The footage was a culmination of what Burlington County prosecutors called a pattern of terrorizing his victims since 2020. According to authorities, Matthews called his neighbors and condo board members "monkeys," left feces on their properties, sent threatening emails and letters, and even shot BB pellets at their cars.
Then came July 2, 2021, when Matthews got in the face of a Black resident and began verbally attacking him with racial slurs. In the viral video, he even challenged other neighbors "to come see me" and gave out his home address, prompting hundreds of demonstrators to protest outside of his home.
Matthews pleaded guilty in October to four counts of bias intimidation and a drug charge under an agreement with the prosecutor's office. Several victims, most of whom were in their 60s and 70s, said they didn't show up to the court proceedings out of fear, according to victim impacts statements read in court by Assistant County Prosecutor Jamie Hutchinson.
Reporters said Matthews tearfully begged for a shorter sentence, apologized to the victims, and said he feels remorse for his actions and how it's affected his family. Superior Court Judge Gerard H. Breland claims Matthews missed that opportunity due to "ineffective counsel," the newspaper reports.
Ultimately, Breland ruled Matthews must serve at least four years before he can be eligible for parole. Since he's been in custody since his 2021 arrest, the 47-year-old will get credit for time served. Matthews was also ordered to pay $4,408 in restitution and undergo racial sensitivity training in prison, The Inquirer added.
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