Ocean County Man Carved Swastika On Lawn: Authorities

A Lakewood man pleaded guilty Monday to one count of fourth-degree bias intimidation in connection with the carving of a swastika into the lawn of a Leisure Village home, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

Scott F. Cooney, 36, of East Dorchester Drive, Lakewood, pleaded guilty before in Ocean County Superior Court Judge James M. Blaney. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a 15-month term in state prison, spokesman Al Della Fave said.

Cooney was arrested on Aug. 13, 2014, after the victims called police when they saw him using a pipe to carve a something on their Leisure Village lawn, Della Fave said.

“The victims, not wanting to provoke a confrontation, stayed safely within their home,“ he said. “Once Cooney departed, they went outside to find that he had carved a swastika into the lawn.”

The victims took a photo and immediately reported the incident to Lakewood police, Della Fave said.

The victims also told police that they had been verbally harassed and threatened by Cooney for several months before the incident, Della Fave said.

Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. set Cooney’s bail at $25,000 when Cooney was arrested last year and issued a no-contact order. Cooney posted bail, but it was revoked after he violated the no-contact order. He has been in the Ocean County Jail since June 5, 2015.

Photos courtesy Ocean County Corrections (Cooney) and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office (swastika photo).