Davidovitz And Goldbaum Attacked Because They Are Orthodox

A 20-year-old Lakewood man has admitted violently robbing two men he said were targeted for the crimes because they are Orthodox Jews. Devon Hardy of McArthur Street pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of armed robbery and two counts of bias intimidation related to crimes in Lakewood on May 25 and July 8 of last year. In entering his guilty plea before Superior Court Judge James Den Uyl, Hardy said an alleged accomplice, Jose Diaz, selected the Orthodox Jewish men as victims because he knew them to be easy targets. "It wasn't a hate crime, but they were selected because of their religion," said First Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Ronald DeLigny. The first victim, David Davidovish, 38, was visiting from Israel when he was robbed on May 25, 2008, as he sat in a car in front of a convenience store on Route 9, police said. DeLigny said Davidovish was assaulted with a bat. He suffered a broken nose and required stitches, DeLigny said. Read full article in APP here.