Adam Edward Braun, a 34-year-old Oregon man, pleaded guilty to three federal hate crimes after intentionally defacing a synagogue in Eugene, Oregon. Braun targeted Temple Beth Israel, a Jewish synagogue in Eugene, with graffiti on two separate occasions.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Braun spray-painted the numbers "1377" on the exterior of the synagogue building between September 10 and 11, 2023. Braun admitted that he selected the numbers "1377" because it was similar to "1488," a popular white-supremacist slogan that references Adolf Hitler and the "Fourteen words."
Months later, in January, Braun attempted to damage the synagogue's glass doors using a ball-peen hammer. Braun stopped when he saw he was being recorded by a surveillance camera and went to another area of the property where he spray-painted the slogan "WHITE POWER" in large letters.
Braun faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each of the three charges, as well as fines and restitution. The case was investigated by the FBI Portland Field Office with assistance from the Eugene Police Department.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas Olson of the FBI Portland Field Office made the announcement.
Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell of the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce for the District of Oregon are prosecuting the case.
The guilty plea comes as a relief to the Jewish community in Eugene, who have been working to combat hate crimes in the area. The case highlights the ongoing issue of white supremacy and the need for greater vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement and community organizations.
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Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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