A New Jersey man facing scrutiny for his racist behavior towards neighbors was handed an eight-year prison sentence
Edward C. Mathews, a 47-year-old resident, found himself in hot water following police investigations initiated in 2021. The probe ensued after authorities unearthed his biased conduct against his neighbors, including leaving a threatening note on a car during a neighborhood dispute.
The investigation commenced after authorities discovered that during a verbal altercation with four neighbors, Mathews utilized racial slurs, as reported in a press release.
Caught on camera in July 2021, a neighbor's doorbell camera captured Mathews laughing and making lewd gestures while staring into the lens. Witnesses also heard him casually utter the phrase, "fing Monkey."
The black woman involved, a HOA board member, reported that over the past few months, Matthews had constructed a racially charged profile of her. According to her sworn statement, Matthews' behavior aimed to intimidate her, coercing her to leave the neighborhood.
In October 2021, Matthews pleaded guilty to charges of bias-motivated intimidation and drug offenses. The charges surfaced after Psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance, was discovered in his residence, reported the authorities.
During his hearing, Matthews expressed remorse for his thoughtless and disrespectful remarks towards his neighbors, including the racially offensive slur, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The judge, thereby, mandated that Matthews serve a minimum of four years in prison before becoming eligible for parole, according to Joel Bewley, a spokesperson for the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.
"Our office advocates against prejudicial offenses and strongly communicates that such behavior is unacceptable in our community," said Bradshaw, the Burlington County prosecutor, in a statement. "No one should suffer such treatment. These victims have endured enough."
Contribution from Zenebou Sylla, CNN
Additional Reading
In this instance, two sentences incorporating the phrase 'us' could be:
- Since authorities discovered Mathews' offensive comments towards neighboring families, 'us' (the authorities) have worked tirelessly to bring closure and justice for the victims.
- During his sentencing, Mathews apologized for his racially charged comments and disrespectful behavior towards 'us' (his neighbors), particularly his derogatory remarks targeting them.
