Jury Finds Stalker Guilty Of Hate Crime Against Episcopal Rector

HYDE PARK, NY — A Dutchess County jury has convicted a Hudson Valley man of a hate crime connected to the stalking and harassment of a church leader.

Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi announced that on Monday, after two days of testimony and over three hours of deliberations, a Dutchess County jury found 32-year-old Jacob Bender guilty of felony first-degree criminal contempt, misdemeanor second-degree criminal contempt, and misdemeanor fourth-degree stalking as a hate crime.

"This defendant engaged in a deliberate and escalating course of conduct, ignoring the authority of the court, targeting a member of the clergy, and instilling fear through repeated, threatening communications and physical proximity to her home," Parisi said. "That conduct is not only unlawful, but also an attack on the fundamental right of every person to feel safe in their home and to practice their faith without fear of intimidation or harassment."

The district attorney said that there is good reason that hate-based crimes are especially troubling for the community.

"This case underscores exactly why our Office has established a dedicated Hate Crimes Unit, supported through funding from the U.S. Department of Justice," Parisi said. "We are strengthening our ability to identify, investigate, and prosecute crimes driven by bias, intolerance, and hate. When individuals are targeted because of who they are, what they believe, or the communities they serve, the impact extends far beyond a single victim, it strikes at the core of our shared values. Let me be clear, behavior driven by hate or intolerance will not be tolerated in Dutchess County. Everyone in this community has the right to live, worship, and serve free from fear, and this Office will stand unwavering in defense of that right. I thank the jury for their careful attention to the evidence and for delivering a just verdict."

The jury found that on Dec. 6, 2024, Bender violated an order of protection and placed church rector Meredith Sanderson in reasonable fear of physical injury, serious physical injury or death by sending an email that she had no authority to preach the gospel, and that she and her flock would burn in hell.

In addition, the jury concluded that the Hyde Park man violated an order of protection on Dec. 11, 2024, by walking by to her residence.

The jury also found that Bender engaged in a "course of conduct predicated on his dissatisfaction with her church's acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community" when, between Nov. 10, 2024 and Nov. 13, 2024, he emailed the rector at St. James Episcopal Church using the subject line "repent," causing her to reasonably fear harm to her physical health, safety or property. Bender's grandparents are congregants of the church.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 11.

The investigation was handled by the Town of Hyde Park Police Department, with help from the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department.