Police arrested a 73-year-old Port Jefferson, N.Y. man on April 1, for pouring motor oil onto the rear entrance of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on North Country Road in Mount Sinai.
Members of the congregation discovered the damage Wednesday morning. William Frank Kelly told detectives from the Hate Crimes Unit that he intentionally did the damage, "Believing that he was doing God's work." Kelly had been in contact with members of the congregation Tuesday evening at a function celebrating a memorial of Jesus Christ's death. At the function, Kelly questioned the Jehovah's Witnesses' belief and was asked to leave the celebration.
Police allege that Kelly returned to the scene early Wednesday morning and poured two quarts of motor oil onto the rear entrance of the building. The incident was captured on video surveillance equipment at the location.
Kelly was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime. He was to be held overnight at the Sixth Precinct for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Friday morning.
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