UPDATE: Jury trial for Houghton man accused of defacing Temple Jacob with neo-Nazi symbols moved from October to January

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WLUC) - UPDATE: The jury trial for a Houghton man charged for defacing a Jewish temple in Hancock with neo-Nazi symbols has been moved to the beginning of 2024.

Nathan Weeden, 23, faces two federal charges: conspiracy against rights, which comes with a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, and damage to religious property, the maximum penalty for which is 1 year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.

Weeden was previously scheduled to stand trial beginning Oct. 2. Federal court documents, however, show that Weeden’s jury trial has been moved to Jan. 22, 2024 because “the government and the defendant agreed that a trial in January 2024 would allow for sufficient time to prepare for trial.”

The July indictment against Weeden states that in September 2019, Weeden, and co-conspirators Richard Tobin, and Yousef Barasneh — all members of The Base, a multi-state, white supremacist organization — allegedly used an encrypted messaging platform to discuss vandalizing property associated with African Americans and Jewish Americans.

Weeden and his co-conspirators dubbed their plan, “Operation Kristallnacht,” which in German means “Night of Broken Glass” and is in reference to the events that took place on Nov.9 and 10 of 1938 in which Nazis murdered Jewish people and burned and destroyed their homes, synagogues, schools, and places of business.

The indictment alleges that Weeden carried out this plan on Sept. 21, 2019, when he spray-painted swastikas and symbols associated with The Base on the outside walls of Temple Jacob.

Weeden was released from jail in July on a $25,000 bond under standard conditions of release. TV6 will continue to follow this story as it develops.

Last published: Jul 18, 2023 3:55:32 PM

A jury trial has been scheduled in federal court for a Houghton man charged for defacing Temple Jacob in Hancock with neo-Nazi symbols.

Twenty-three-year-old Nathan Weeden had a pretrial conference on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. At the hearing, a jury trial for Weeden was scheduled for October 2 at 9:00 a.m., at the U.S. District Court in Marquette before Hon. Robert J. Jonker.

According to court documents, Judge Jonker’s next available trial date was August 2 but Weeden’s counsel said that would not be enough time for them to review evidence and prepare for trial. The court agreed to place the trial on the docket for October 2.

A final pretrial conference is scheduled for September 25 and the deadline for filing a plea agreement is September 1.

Last published: Jul 6, 2023 3:55:19 PM

The Houghton man charged federally for defacing a Jewish temple in Houghton with neo-Nazi symbols is moving forward in federal court.

23-year-old Nathan Weeden of Houghton was arraigned June 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. He is scheduled for a pretrial conference on July 17 at 9:30 a.m.

Weeden has been released on a $25,000 bond under standard conditions of release.

Last published: Jul 2, 2023 1:39:39 PM

23-year-old Nathan Weeden of Houghton is being indicted for allegedly painting swastikas and other symbols associated with The Base, a multi-state, white supremacist group, on Temple Jacob in Hancock.

According to the indictment, in September 2019, Weeden, and co-conspirators Richard Tobin, and Yousef Barasneh — all members of The Base, a multi-state, white supremacist organization — allegedly used an encrypted messaging platform to discuss vandalizing property associated with African Americans and Jewish Americans.

Weeden and his co-conspirators dubbed their plan, “Operation Kristallnacht,” which in German means “Night of Broken Glass” and is in reference to the events that took place on November 9th and 10th of 1938 in which Nazis murdered Jewish people and burned and destroyed their homes, synagogues, schools, and places of business.

The indictment alleges that Weeden carried out this plan on Sept. 21, 2019, when he spray-painted swastikas and symbols associated with The Base on the outside walls of Temple Jacob.

The president of the Temple Jacob, David Holden, recalls the day this occurred.

“We were informed by the Hancock Police Department that there had been some vandalism,” said Holden. “Folks walking by had noted it and reported it. We came over and investigated it and started the work of cleaning it up.”

Holden said he is grateful for the work of the FBI and the U.S. District Attorney’s office, as well as support from the community.

“Ultimately, I’m very grateful for the efforts of local law enforcement, specifically the public safety department of Michigan Technological University for the support that they’ve given us,” added Holden.

Weeden is charged with two counts. The first count is for Conspiracy Against Rights, a civil rights statute that makes it a crime to conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in the exercise of their rights. The maximum penalty under this statute is 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

The second count is for Damage to Religious Property, also a civil rights statute that makes it a crime to intentionally deface, damage, or destroy religious property because of the race or ethnic characteristics of individuals associated with that religious property. The maximum penalty under this statute is 1 year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.

The grand jury issued its two-count indictment against Nathan Weeden on June 27, 2023. The indictment was unsealed on June 29, 2023, after the defendant was arrested by the FBI.

“We are fully prepared to make our case against Mr. Weeden,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “No one should be the target of hate because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or any other status. When hateful words become hateful acts, in violation of federal civil rights laws, my office will use every tool we have to protect the public and ensure accountability. With the rise of antisemitism across the United States and here in Michigan, everyone must do their part to stand united against hate.”

“The FBI will not tolerate crimes motivated by hate, which are meant to intimidate and isolate the targeted groups,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “People of all faiths deserve to feel safe in their communities and this office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue these types of cases to ensure there are consequences for crimes like those alleged in this indictment.”

He remains in custody at this time. The court will schedule Weeden’s arraignment, detention hearing, and trial at a later date.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. It is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Hancock Police Department.

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