Criminal charges were lodged here yesterday against a 57-year-old Brooklyn woman for interrupting religious services and harassing congregants during Rosh Hashanah services at an Orthodox synagogue. If convicted, she could be sentenced to a year in prison.
Brooklyn District Attorney Elizabeth Holtzman announced that according to the complaint, Marie lannelli was charged on September 30 with disruption or disturbance of a religious service, discrimination and criminal trespass, lannelli approached the synagogue. Congregation Chevra Shaff, and yelled abusive epithets at the congregants, the complaint said.
“Crimes which are motivated by religious bias must not be tolerated in our multi-ethnic society,” Holtzman declared. “People who commit such crimes in Brooklyn will be prosecuted and punished.”
Holtzman said that lannelli’s actions were in violation of the New York State civil rights laws and the disruption or disturbance of religious services are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail. A court appearance for lannelli has been set for October 28.
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