American Jewry, antisemitism, Quality of Jewish Life

No Jail Time for Antisemitic Attack on Seniors

gavel

A year ago, a man named Alen Califano walked into a Jewish nursing home and went berserk, repeatedly, for instance, “bashing an 84-year-old man on the head with a fire extinguisher while shouting, ‘I’m going to kill you, you (bleep bleep) Jew!’” But while Califano’s motivations and intent seem clear as day, Judge Iacovetta isn’t treating the incident as antisemitism. Instead, he said Califano has substance abuse issues, and ruled the man should receive no jail time, at all.

Califano will not be behind bars, but will “recover” at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. “Mr. Califano meets the diagnostic criteria … and treatment is appropriate,” Iacovetta said, adding, “An institutional incarceration in a correctional facility is not necessary at this time.”

Califano might have received up to 25 years in prison.

Will Robert Bowers, the man who killed 11 Jews in Pittsburgh, also be deemed to meet “diagnostic criteria” and escape time in a jail cell? Where does mental illness begin and evil end??