Shaare Torah Vandalism Suspect Pleads Guilty

A Gaithersburg teenager who pleaded guilty to vandalism for painting swastikas and other hate-based graffiti at Shaare Torah Synagogue was asked to make repairs and visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington to set things right.

Sebastian Espinoza-Carranza, 18, when he was charged in the April vandalism that included swastikas, the initials KKK and other graffiti on the walls, windows and doors of the synagogue. After he was charged, he told reporters the graffiti was a bad joke not intended as a racial slur and that he regrets the incident.

His sentencing is set for Oct. 20.

»‘I‘m Not a Racist’: Synagogue Vandalism Suspect

His attorney, Barry Helfand, told Montgomery Community Media the state will not seek jail time for the misdemeanor charges. Espinoza-Carranza was asked to attend the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, write an essay, and help repair the building to make amends, Helfand said.

Police described the act as a hate crime and Gaithersburg’s mayor said it was despicable.

Espinoza-Carranza later apologized to the Jewish community and said the actions were a stupid joke.

“I really regret what I did and I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. … I love Jewish people, I have a lot of Jewish friends. … I’m not a racist person, I’m not. I would never be a racist person in my life,” he said in a Montgomery Community Media video.

Espinoza-Carranza was charged with property damage to a religious institution, defacement of a religious property, and malicious destruction of property over $1,000.

He will likely receive probation, says his lawyer, and eventually have his record expunged.

»Screenshot of Sebastian Espinoza-Carranza from MyMCMedia