Defendants: Nodar Kikvidize (DOB 6/21/1997); Joseph Hasselt (DOB 11/20/1996)
May 27, 2020 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced Nodar Kikvidize of Bronxville and Joseph Hasselt of Yonkers were arraigned on felony hate crime charges related to graffiti found property around the Scouts Field near the Bronx River Parkway at Bronxville.
Both men are charged with: Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime, a class D felony, and Aggravated Harassment in the First Degree, a class E felony. They appeared in Westchester County Court Emergency Part via video conference before Judge Jo Ann Friia.
DA Scarpino said, “This is a despicable crime targeting multiple groups and damaging public property. This kind of hate has no place in Westchester County. Our specialized Hate Crimes Unit is focused on working with County Police and Bronxville Police as they continue to investigate this crime and prosecute the defendants.”
Background
On Monday morning, May 25, 2020, a pedestrian walking on the path near Scouts Field and Midland Avenue in Bronxville found several areas of graffiti spray painted both on the walking path and on a the baseball dugout in County parkland along the Bronx River Parkway. The passerby alerted nearby police. The graffiti spray-painted on the blacktop path and structure included a swastika and several phrases using racist language targeting ethnic groups including Blacks and Mexicans.
Both defendants were arrested Tuesday by Westchester County Police who are investigating the crime in conjunction with the Bronxville Police Department. The District Attorney’s Office Hate Crimes Unit is working with prosecutors and police.
In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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