Lakewood hate-crimes suspect shouts profanities at state judge as feds add new charges

TOMS RIVER - Just as a 27-year-old Manchester man was cursing out a Superior Court judge who was advising him of a state terrorism charge, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Wednesday brought federal hate crimes charges against him in the string of violent assaults on members of the Orthodox Jewish community in and around Lakewood.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Dion Marsh is charged with four counts of violating the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and one count of carjacking.

Three of the four federal hate crimes complaints allege Marsh attempted to murder the victims. The fourth alleges he assaulted the victim. The charges alleging attempted murder carry maximum prison terms of life, while the charge alleging assault carries a maximum term of 10 years, and the carjacking charge carries a maximum 15-year prison term.

All of the victims were visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish men, Sellinger said in a news release.

The federal allegations mirror the first set of state charges brought against Marsh by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office relating to the crime spree in Lakewood and Jackson on April 8. The Prosecutor’s Office brought new charges against Marsh last week, including terrorism and additional crimes turned up in an ongoing investigation.

Marsh, appearing virtually Wednesday from a cell at the Ocean County Jail before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan to hear the new state charges, repeatedly told the judge to shut up and even hurled F-bombs at him.

At the same time, federal authorities made the following allegations against Marsh related to events on April 8:

• At 1:18 p.m., Marsh forced a visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man out of his car in Lakewood, assaulting and injuring him in the process, then took the car and drove away.

• At 6:06 p.m., Marsh was driving a different car in Lakewood when he deliberately struck another visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man with the vehicle, attempting to kill him and causing him to suffer several broken bones.

• At 6:55 p.m., Marsh, again in the vehicle stolen from the first victim, deliberately struck a visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man with it in Lakewood, and then got out of the car and stabbed the man in the chest, attempting to kill him.

• At 8:23 p.m., Marsh used the stolen car to strike a visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man who was walking nearby in Jackson, attempting to kill him and causing him to suffer several broken bones and internal injuries.

Marsh was arrested about midnight at his home in Manchester.

Later, on April 9, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced his office had charged Marsh with three counts of attempted murder, carjacking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and three counts of bias intimidation in connection with the same events.

An affidavit of probable cause to charge Marsh with the crimes alleged that the defendant, when asked by detectives why he committed the, responded, “It had to be done.’’ He went on to tell them, “These are the real devils,’’ elaborating that he was referring to Hassidic Jews, the affidavit said.

'I'm pretty sure he did die': Vulgar day in court for man accused in Lakewood bias attacks

'It must stop': NJ officials condemn attack on Jewish residents in Lakewood, Jackson

Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ, asked the Department of Justice and FBI, in the aftermath of the crime spree, to investigate if Marsh was motivated by antisemitism. He said he specifically asked FBI Director Christopher Wray, in a letter last week, to consider violations of the federal code under which Marsh was charged Wednesday.

“The federal hate crime charges brought against Dion Marsh are a chilling reminder of the ugly reality that antisemitism won’t go away by ignoring or wishing it away. It must be defeated,” said Smith, who co-chairs the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism.

“Tragically, attacks like the one we recently witnessed are reflective of the historically high levels of hatred directed at Jews across the United States and throughout the world,” Smith said. “There must be zero tolerance at every level for hate-fueled crimes against members of the Orthodox Jewish community.''

Last week, Billhimer said an ongoing investigation revealed additional crimes allegedly committed by Marsh, also on April 8, leading to more charges against him, including terrorism. Billhimer described the additional crimes as an attempted carjacking at 1:10 p.m. in Lakewood; another pedestrian struck by a car in Lakewood at 5:20 p.m., and an attempted kidnapping of a child in Lakewood at 5:25 p.m.

Based on those new allegations, the Prosecutor’s Office last week signed complaints against Marsh charging him with terrorism, two additional counts of bias intimidation and one count each of attempted carjacking, attempted murder and attempted kidnapping.

Marsh appeared virtually before Ryan to hear the new state charges. He yelled and hurled obscenities repeatedly throughout the proceeding, prompting the judge to order the hearing’s moderator to mute the defendant.

Marsh began shouting as soon as Deputy Assistant Public Defender Marissa DeAnna entered her appearance on Marsh’s behalf.

“She can leave now or shut the f—- up,’’ Marsh yelled.

“It’s game f——— over,’’ Marsh shouted. “Call Dion, call Tyrone, call Simpson. I’m done with this bulls—-.’’

It was unclear who Marsh was referring to.

Ryan interrupted and told Marsh he was going to advise him of new charges against him.

“Oh, word, and what’s yours? Terrorism?’’ Marsh said. “F—- you. Get going.’’

At that point, Ryan directed the moderator to mute Marsh.

Ryan then advised Marsh of the new state charges against him. He advised Marsh that the terrorism charge carries a term of between 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole, up to life in prison. The terrorism charge also carries a presumption of pretrial detention, Ryan explained.

The complaint alleges Marsh “did commit or attempt to conspire or threaten to commit the crimes of murder, carjacking and kidnapping with the purpose to promote an act of terrorism or terrorize five or more persons,’’ Ryan said.

With that, the judge asked to have the defendant unmuted so he could ask him if he understood his rights and the new charges against him.

When he was unmuted, Marsh again began shouting. He appeared to say something about “double murder’’ and then asked the judge if he wanted the phone numbers of attorneys he apparently wants to hire.

“Do you want the numbers or not?’’ Marsh asked the judge.

“No, I don’t call the attorneys for you, sir,’’ Ryan responded.

“Ok, then shut the f——up,’’ Marsh told him. “Don’t get me a public defender.’’

He continued yelling profanities.

“OK, so we’re going to mute you again because you can’t conduct yourself appropriately,’’ the judge said.

Marsh was scheduled to have a detention hearing Wednesday, but both DeAnna and Victoria Esler, an assistant Ocean County prosecutor, asked for adjournments.

Ryan granted the adjournments and scheduled Marsh’s detention hearing for Tuesday.

Then, the judge told Marsh he would again be unmuted to ask if he understood the day’s proceedings.

“Mr. Marsh, we’re going to try one more time to see if you can speak like a gentleman,’’ Ryan told him.

Marsh’s response was, “Bulls—-! Shut the f—— up. Shut up. Shut the f—— up.’’’

Before ending the proceeding, Ryan said, “The defendant continues to be unable to comport himself in a judicial proceeding. …Unfortunately, he’s not able to communicate with me and continues to yell and use profanity.’’

Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues, unsolved mysteries and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Lakewood hate-crimes suspect now faces federal charges