Latest news with #Laugero
CBS News
23-04-2025
- CBS News
Modesto man convicted of hate crimes in stalking, threats case
MODESTO – A Modesto man has been convicted of stalking and making terrorist threats toward people of Hispanic ethnicity, prosecutors said on Wednesday. The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office said 39-year-old Anthony Ruben Rodriguez admitted to stalking and making threats towards victims because of their Hispanic ethnicity. One conviction is classified as a serious felony as it falls under California's three-strikes law. Between October 2024 and December 2024, multiple flyers containing what prosecutors described as hate speech were found throughout the Parklawn neighborhood and in other areas of Modesto. The flyers created outrage within the predominantly Latino neighborhoods, with some community members bringing the concerns forward at a community meeting. After law enforcement became aware of the flyers, Rodriguez was later arrested for making threats against a victim and stalking another. While serving a search warrant, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office found flyers like the ones distributed in the Parklawn neighborhood. The Modesto Police Department said a victim found "a note on their vehicle containing hate speech and threats to harm them based on their race" on Dec. 4, 2024. When Rodriguez was arrested, police said he admitted to being involved with the note. The stalking and threats charges came with special allegations that Rodriguez admitted to, making it a hate crime, prosecutors said. However, prosecutors added that many of the flyers that were distributed were protected by the Constitution. "We recognize that hate speech is deeply offensive and harms those it targets and those subjected to it," said District Attorney Laugero. "However, under the First Amendment, some offensive flyers are protected speech." Rodriquez will be sentenced on April 24. Prosecutors said any fines paid by Rodriquez will be sent to local organizations that help victims of hate crimes. "Hate has no place in our community," Laugero said.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Modesto man, tied to racist flyers, is convicted on felony charges
A Modesto man accused of distributing racist slurs was convicted of stalking and making criminal threats against people based on their Latino ethnicity. Anthony Ruben Rodriguez, 39, was arrested four months ago on hate crime charges related to incidents between October and December 2024. Rodriguez distributed and posted multiple flyers containing hate speech in the Parklawn neighborhood in south Modesto and in other areas. The Stanislaus County District's Office said Rodriguez admitted to targeting Latino residents because of their ethnicity. In a plea agreement, he admitted to a felony charge of stalking a woman, with a hate crime enhancement, and a second felony of making criminal threats against another victim, with the same enhancement. He also was convicted of misdemeanor civil rights charges, and is scheduled for sentencing Thursday. In December, Rodriguez was arrested and identified as a suspect who made and distributed signs and index cards with violent messages including 'kill wetbacks.' Some of the index cards were left on car windshields. Investigators from the district attorney and sheriff's offices were looking into the incidents after community members complained about the lack of response to the racial epithets. A break came when Modesto police responded to a call in the area of Ninth and K streets, prompted by a racially offensive note left on a vehicle. Modesto Police Department found it had an arrest warrant for Rodriguez tied to criminal threats and a stalking incident in October. Rodriguez was arrested and a search warrant served at his residence revealed the same kind of racist flyers distributed at Parklawn. District Jeff Laugero said in a news release many of the flyers, though offensive, were constitutionally protected as free speech, such as those that didn't threaten violence. 'We recognize that hate speech is deeply offensive and harms those it targets and those subjected to it,' Laugero said. 'However, under the First Amendment, some offensive flyers are protected speech.' Laugero said the lack of criminal charges related to some of Rodriguez' flyers is not an endorsement of hateful views but is an acknowledgment of First Amendment protections. Rodriguez, who's from an Hispanic background, seemed to target newer immigrants with his messages. The DA's hate crimes prosecutors have specialized training in these legal issues and also seek advice from a hate crimes expert at Stanislaus State University, the news release said. 'This office will file charges when offensive flyers or other similar hate speech crosses the line from protected speech to illegal hate crimes,' Laugero said. 'Hate has no place in our community.' Any fines collected from Rodriguez will go to a local organization that assists hate crime victims.
