An anti-Semitic New Jersey arsonist was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday for a series of crimes against Jewish residents. In the course of his spree, he burned down one Manchester home, damaged three others and vandalized 14 others, according to the Ocean County District Attorney’s Office and Manchester police.
Ron Carr, 35, of Manchester, pleaded guilty to arson, prejudice intimidation and criminal damage on June 20. On Friday he received concurrent prison sentences of seven years, five years and 18 months.
Carr, who, according to radio station WKXW-FM, believed he was “saving the neighborhood from a plague” of Jewish residents, began his series of attacks when he vandalized 14 homes around midnight on June 6, 2023. Manchester police said Carr spray-painted the homes with “Nazi symbols.”
A few hours later, Carr set fire to the home of a Hispanic family with accelerant because he believed the house was owned by a Jew, according to a fundraiser for reconstruction and Manchester police. The earlier acts of vandalism also included spray painting the house. Radio station WKXW-FM said Carr believed the house was being turned into a Jewish school.
The Rivas family’s home was razed to the ground, three other houses suffered heat damage, and the flames spread to the forest behind the house.
“I am grateful that no one was harmed in these senseless acts of bigotry and hatred,” Ocean County Attorney Bradley Billhimer said in a statement last year.
Carr was arrested on June 9, 2023, according to police.
“This series of crimes and the anti-Semitism expressed in them caused pain, devastation, shock and fear to the residents of Manchester Township,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. “No community in the state of New Jersey should feel vulnerable or fearful in the face of intolerant acts. No resident should feel that their personal safety or home is threatened by bigotry, persecution and violence.”
Fundraising started for the construction of a new house
A fundraiser was launched to help the family of six build a new home, as they reportedly did not have insurance for the newly constructed building. According to the fundraising page, the family had sold their business and invested all their savings into building the home, which they planned to move into later that year. As of August 2024, the GoFundMe campaign had raised only $11,000.
Manchester Mayor Rob Arace said on June 9 last year that he was disturbed and saddened to see acts of hate and violence in his community.
“In the face of adversity, we must unite against hate and intolerance,” Arace said on Facebook. “Manchester is a place where compassion, respect and understanding prevail. We can build a community that embodies these values and ensures a safe and welcoming environment.”
