Jesse and Roman Jedrzejczyk are subjects of hate crime indictment

Date: 7/21/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



HOLYOKE -- Two Holyoke men have been indicted for harassing a neighbor for the past three years -- a violation of the state's "hate crime" statue.

On July 14, Attorney General Martha Coakley obtained a civil rights indictment against Jesse and Roman Jedrzejczyk, who are charged with harassing, threatening and intimidating their neighbor, a Haitian refugee and her two six-year old daughters.

The order, signed by Judge Constance Sweeney of the Hampden Superior Court, prohibits the Jedrzejczyks from threatening, intimidating or coercing the victims, or anyone else in the Commonwealth, because of their actual or perceived race or ethnicity. The Jedrzejczyks also cannot knowingly come within ten feet of the victims. Amie Breton of Coakley's office told Reminder Publications that what will come next in the case is either a decision through a trial or a negotiated settlement.

A violation of the order is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily injury results from such a violation, a $10,000 fine and up to ten years in State Prison.

According to the complaint, filed last week, the Jedrzejczyks "repeatedly and regularly harassed the victims using racial slurs and threats over the course of the past three years. The defendants' actions have caused the victim to become concerned for her personal safety after threats were made to break her windshield. In addition, a 'For Sale' sign was placed in front of her house. The intimidation culminated recently when the victim responded to racial slurs being directed at her by imploring Jesse Jedrzecjcyk to leave her alone. In response, Mr. Jedrzecjcyk threatened, 'I will never leave you alone until you move. If you don't move, I'll move you!'"

The Commonwealth's lawsuit alleges the Jedrzejczyks' bias-motivated harassment has seriously interfered with the victims' ability to live and feel safe at home.

Breton said the complaint against the two brothers came through the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights. She said the Holyoke police had responded to calls to the victim's home for the past three years.

If someone believes they have been the victims of such a crime, Breton said they should call the attorney general's officer at 617-727-2200.

Coakley said, "Bias-motivated conduct, such as the pattern of harassment and intimidation we allege in this case, is devastating to victims. Not only is there an immediate emotional impact, but feelings of fear, anxiety and profound loss of personal security often have a lingering impact far after the incident. Beyond their effect on individual victims, hate crimes are detrimental to the safety of our communities at large."