Yesterday, in Brooklyn Criminal Court, Primus St. Croix pleaded guilty to destroying five religious statues in the Brooklyn Diocese. Judge Anne Feldman accepted his guilty plea and is expected to sentence St. Croix today; she has indicated that he will be given five years probation.
At yesterday’s hearing, Lance Ogiste, the district attorney’s executive assistant, said, “The people are asking for a sentence of two and one-third to seven years. The defendant terrorized not only Brooklyn but all New York City and not only Catholics but people of all religious faiths.” The district attorney’s office is currently investigating six other crimes of a similar nature; the 12 suspects may be connected to a religious group lead by St. Croix, who is a Rastafarian.
Catholic League president William Donohue is asking that stronger action be taken:
“Either St. Croix should be deported or there must be a federal investigation of this matter. St. Croix is an illegal alien who can be deported for pleading guilty to these crimes. That is exactly what should happen.
“However, since this is unlikely to occur, the Catholic League will call on U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch to apply the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrance Act of 1994, a law passed by the 103rd Congress. Though this act was primarily aimed at securing abortion rights, it also contains a provision making it illegal to intentionally damage or destroy the property of a place of religious worship.
“It is not in dispute that St. Croix is mentally competent to stand trial. Indeed, he even promised yesterday that when he is released, he will continue his crusade to get Catholics to ‘get rid of’ religious statues. This is not the voice of someone who admits to wrongdoing.”
