NewsJune 1, 2009

A Cape Girardeau man has been charged with two hate crimes for property damage he allegedly committed at the Islamic Center in Cape Girardeau Sunday night. According to a news release from Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, Nicholas John Proffitt, 31, is charged with property damage in the first degree for allegedly damaging the front door of the Islamic Center by throwing rocks at the building and property damage in the second degree for damaging the windshield of a car parking in the center's parking lot at 293 West End Boulevard. ...

A Cape Girardeau man has been charged with two hate crimes for property damage he allegedly committed at the Islamic Center in Cape Girardeau Sunday night.

According to a news release from Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, Nicholas John Proffitt, 31, is charged with first-degree property damage for allegedly damaging the front door of the Islamic Center by throwing rocks at the building and second-degree property damage for allegedly damaging the windshield of a car parked in the center's parking lot at 293 West End Blvd. Swingle said Proffitt is also charged with misdemeanors of driving while intoxicated, speeding and failure to wear a seatbelt for offenses he allegedly committed four hours after the property damage.

Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp set his bond at $15,000 cash only.

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Swingle said that if the prosecution proves property damage was committed because of a motive related to the religion of the victim, Proffitt's punishment would be enhanced. First-degree property damage exceeds $750 and carries a prison term sentence of up to four years. Swingle said that as a hate crime it carries up to seven years in prison.

Second-degree property damage carries a maximum range of punishment of up to one year in a county jail and four years in prison as a hate crime.

Swingle said that hate crimes are rare in Cape Girardeau County, with less than one each year.

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