Biden DOJ Recommends No Jail Time for Attack on Catholic Church in Washington State
President Biden’s Department of Justice is facing criticism after it was reported that the DOJ recommended zero jail time in a plea deal involving a suspect charged with destruction of property at a Catholic church in Washington in June 2022.
The damage at the St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington, amounted to more than $30,000, which included the destruction of an Italian-made Blessed Virgin Mary statue, anti-Catholic graffiti, and smashed windows.
The defendant, Maeve Nota — who was 31 years old when arrested back in 2022 — is also being charged on the state level with a hate crime and assault. During the attack, Nota also spray-painted a church employee’s face and clothes.
Nota — who reportedly identifies as a transgender female — entered into a plea agreement in March with the DOJ. In the agreement, Nota pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of destruction to religious property.
The crime holds a maximum prison sentence of one year, up to a $100,000 fine, up to five years probation, and supervision following release from prison. If the court accepts the DOJ’s recommended sentence, Nota will serve no jail time but be sentenced to three years probation, according to the March 14 plea agreement. Requirements of probation can differ depending on the crime, such as appearing in court and reporting to a probation officer.
According to the plea agreement, the court makes the final decision on Nota’s sentence and doesn’t have to accept the DOJ’s recommendation.
The plea agreement says that Nota attacked the church “because of the religious character of the property.”
The news led to several conversations and comments on social media about fairness and accountability.
“Who would have known many months later the Department of Justice recommends no jail time for a hate crime… oh yeah I guess we all would have known. Thank goodness for Biden-era policies that ruin America and don’t hold criminals accountable,” Twitter user Tyrel said.
Some contrasted the DOJ’s recommendation for Nota’s punishment and its aggressive prosecution of the pro-life father of seven Mark Houck, who was acquitted of his federal charges in January. Houck, a Catholic, was accused of trying to stop abortion services by physically pushing an abortion facility escort while sidewalk counseling with his 12-year-old son outside a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood. He maintained he was protecting his son from the harassment of the facility escort.
