Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi announces that today following two days of testimony and just over three hours of deliberations, a Dutchess County jury convicted Jacob Bender, 32, of Hyde Park, of the crimes of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, a Class E Felony, Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree and Stalking in the Fourth Degree as a Hate Crime, both Class A Misdemeanors. 

District Attorney Anthony Parisi said, “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. 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.” DA Parisi further stated, “This case underscores exactly why our Office has established a dedicated Hate Crimes Unit, supported through funding from the U.S. Department of Justice. 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.”