Ocean County officials announced that on August 7, Anthony Lodespoto, 43, of Howell, pled guilty to Bias Intimidation
On March 26, the Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau was made aware that Lodespoto had made threatening statements by way of the direct messaging feature of Facebook against the Jewish community of Lakewood.
On March 27, Detectives were informed by members of the New Jersey State Police that Lodespoto sent a similar message to the Facebook account of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
The threats largely consisted of Lodespoto threatening to travel to Lakewood with the purpose of assaulting members of the Jewish community with a baseball bat.
At the time of his sentencing on September 25, the State will be seeking a sentence of 180 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of Probation.
Lodespoto remains lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending sentencing.