Accused Northwestern Chapel Vandals Face Hate Crime Charges

EVANSTON, IL - The former Northwestern University students accused of defacing a University chapel in March by spray painting racist and homophobic words, penises and Donald Trump’s name have been charged with multiple hate crimes by a grand jury.

Anthony Morales, 19, and Matthew Kafker, 18 have both been charged with 12 felonies stemming from the March 11 incident that was captured on surveillance video, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Among the charges facing Morales and Kafker are hate crimes at a church/synagogue/place of worship, criminal defacement and institutional vandalism and burglary.

According to the indictment, the pair went into a Northwestern chapel in the 1800 block of Sheridan Road carrying spray cans. Authorities the next day found a swastika, racial slurs against African-Americans, the word “TRUMP,” several penises and lines drawn through pictures of Muslim leaders.

The two were enrolled as students at the University at the time of the vandalism, but neither are enrolled at the moment. They were both released from custody on bond. 

If convicted, Morales and Kafker could each face up to seven years in prison.

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