Eugene, Oregon- A Eugene resident pleaded guilty this week to three federal hate crime charges for repeatedly targeting a local synagogue with antisemitic acts of vandalism.
Adam Edward Braun, 34, admitted to two counts of intentionally defacing a synagogue and one count of attempting to deface religious property because of its significance as a place of Jewish worship.
According to court records, Braun engaged in a series of incidents between September 2023 and January 2024, defacing Temple Beth Israel in Eugene with graffiti, including antisemitic symbols and slogans. On January 14, 2024, he attempted to break the synagogue’s glass doors with a hammer but stopped after noticing a surveillance camera. Braun then spray-painted “White Power” on the building.
On January 31, 2024, the Eugene Police Department and the FBI executed a search warrant at Braun’s residence, uncovering evidence linking him to the synagogue vandalism, as well as items and writings reflecting antisemitic beliefs. Braun was initially charged by criminal complaint in March 2024 and later faced five federal charges in May 2024.
Braun faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release for each count. As part of a plea agreement, Braun has agreed to pay restitution to the synagogue. His sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Eugene Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Cameron A. Bell, Trial Attorney for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
Source: Oregon DOJ
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