East Meadow man resentenced in hate crimes case after failing community service requirements, DA says

An East Meadow man who pleaded guilty to spray-painting antisemitic phrases at and near a Jewish center in April 2024 was sentenced to 4 years’ probation on Friday after he failed to complete mandatory bias training and showed a lack of remorse after a Holocaust Museum tour, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office said.

Sebastian Patino Caceres, 23, pleaded guilty on Jan. 16 to fourth-degree criminal mischief, a felony, after spray painting on fences and in front of East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center at 1400 Prospect Ave.

As part of his plea, Patino Caceres agreed to undergo six months of bias prevention training, 100 hours of community service and take a guided tour of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove, District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement.

If he successfully completed those conditions, Patino Caceres would have been sentenced to 3 years probation for a class A misdemeanor.

"This defendant attended HMTC’s guided tour, but the dedicated staff trying to connect with Patino Caceres found him closed-minded and lacking remorse or regret for his actions," Donnelly said.

Patino Caceres also allegedly gave "endless excuses" before completing his community service and attended only one of his mandatory bias prevention sessions.

On Friday, he was sentenced to 4 years probation for a more serious crime, felony mischief as a hate crime, by Judge Robert Schwartz.

"His paltry attempts at atonement were clear to the judge, who made the right decision and sentenced him on felony charges and upgraded his probation," Donnelly said.

Between April 14 and 15, 2024, Patino Caceres spray-painted several antisemitic phrases on PVC fencing of the rear yards of private homes along Merrick Avenue.

He also spray-painted one of the phrases across plastic sheeting affixed to the PVC fencing that protected a mural of Israeli citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas in October 2023, and across the front cement sidewalk of the East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center.

"My office will never accept Antisemitism in Nassau County, and while we will always extend opportunities for defendants to learn and grow from their hateful and misguided acts, when a defendant refuses the chance to become a more tolerant member of society, they will meet the appropriate legal consequences," Donnelly's statement said.

Patino Caceres was arrested on April 16, 2024, by Nassau County detectives.