Mount Vernon Man Charged After Swastika Etched Into Elevator Glass

A 28-year-old Mount Vernon resident was arraigned on a four-count indictment tied to a March 18 incident at the Mount Vernon East Metro-North station. Prosecutors allege he used a knife to etch a swastika into elevator glass, resulting in more than $1,500 in damage. The charges include second-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree aggravated harassment, and making graffiti. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department investigated the vandalism. The case follows other hateful defacings in the area, including racist graffiti removed from Mount Vernon S.T.E.A.M. Academy. New York hate-crime law permits enhanced penalties when an offense is motivated by bias, and prosecutors noted the charges are non-qualifying under current state bail rules.

"Oscar Islas Sanchez, 28, was arraigned Thursday, May 21, on a four-count indictment tied to a March 18 incident at the Mount Vernon East station, according to Daily Voice. Prosecutors allege he used a knife to etch a swastika into the elevator glass, causing more than $1,500 in damage. He is charged with second-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree aggravated harassment and making graffiti."

"The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department handled the investigation into the vandalism. The MTA says its officers patrol and secure Metro-North stations and infrastructure and that riders can report bias incidents online. Mount Vernon East is a downtown commuter stop on Metro-North's New Haven Line that is heavily used by riders connecting to local Bee-Line buses."

"The case lands amid a string of hateful defacings in the area. School officials removed racist graffiti from Mount Vernon S.T.E.A.M. Academy on May 18 and publicly asked for tips. News 12 Westchester reported on the school incident and officials' calls for the community to step forward."

"New York's hate-crime law allows prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties when an underlying offense is motivated by bias, spelling out when an offense can be charged as a hate crime under New York Penal Law Article 485. Prosecutors also noted that the charges in this case are considered non-qualifying under the state's current bail rules."

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