A member of a family that runs a California raisin company is facing hate crime charges after he allegedly terrorized his Jewish neighbors in Pacific Palisades. <\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Bruce Lion, who was arrested over the weekend, was set to be arraigned. But the proceeding was reportedly postponed because the 64-year-old would not come out of his jail cell. <\/p>\n
Lion was charged with one count of using threats or force because of someone\u2019s beliefs and two counts of threatening \u201cto commit a crime with intent to terrorize,\u201d according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records. <\/p>\n
A plea of not guilty was entered on Lion\u2019s behalf, according to the City News Service and court records. A hearing was also scheduled next month to determine if Lion is mentally competent to stand trial, according to court records.<\/p>\n
Talia Mitchell, attorney for Lion, could not immediately be reached for comment. <\/p>\n
Police have released few details about the case. Lion remains in custody on $225,000 bail, according to the L.A. County district attorney\u2019s office. He did not reply to a request to comment through email.<\/p>\n
Lion was taken into custody early Saturday morning in the Palisades after what a neighbor described as antisemitic tirades. He had allegedly been harassing his Jewish neighbors for weeks, including making criminal threats, said Rabbi Zushe Cunin of Pacific Palisades\u2019 Chabad Jewish Community Center.<\/p>\n
Cunin, who lives in the home next to Lion\u2019s, told The Times that he couldn\u2019t remember ever facing \u201cthis level of intense expression of antisemitism.\u201d<\/p>\n