MARGARETVILLE, N.Y. — A Delaware County man has been charged with a hate crime following an incident involving three Jewish men, authorities said.
Joseph VanBlarcom, 20, was taken into custody on Tuesday. According to New York State Troopers and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, VanBlarcom is accused of throwing objects and swerving his car recklessly at the men while shouting biased obscenities. The incident occurred Monday at a Jewish synagogue on Main Street in the Village of Fleischmanns.
VanBlarcom faces charges of Reckless Endangerment as a Hate Crime, a Class C Felony, and Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree. He was indicted by the Delaware County Court on Thursday on these allegations. Due to New York State’s bail reform laws, the charge does not qualify for bail, and VanBlarcom was released on his own recognizance.
He is scheduled for arraignment on August 26.
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