Mathews sparked outrage when he hurled racial slurs at his black neighbors in his Mount Laural community in July 2021.
nypost.com
New Jersey man Edward Mathews sentenced to 8 years in jail for hurling racial slurs at neighbors in viral video
By
Social Links for Richard Pollina
Published Dec. 9, 2023, 7:23 a.m. ET
A white New Jersey man who
unleashed a racially charged viral rant and spat at his black neighbors sobbed in court Friday as he was sentenced to a lengthy stay in prison, apologizing for his “insensitive and disrespectful words.”
Edward Cagney Mathews, 47, will be mandated to serve four years of an eight-year sentence for pleading guilty to four counts of bias intimidation as well as possession of a controlled, dangerous substance with intent to distribute, according to
The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Superior Court Judge Gerard H. Breland made the ruling on Friday after a tearful Mathews spent the last
two and a half years locked up in jail.
“Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future,” he said in his statement to the court while shackled and handcuffed. “I want to commit to rebuild the community.”
During his statement, Mathew apologized to the victims for his “insensitive and disrespectful words in the past.”
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Edward Cagney Mathews was arrested in July 2021 after a video of him spewing racist remarks at his neighbors went viral. Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
Mathews sparked outrage when he hurled racial slurs at his black neighbor in his Mount Laural community following a dispute with his condo complex’s homeowners’ association in July 2021,
Philly Voice reported.
Mathews was captured on footage referring to the neighbor as a “monkey” and a “n—-r” while bumping his chest and spitting on the man during the altercation.
During his racist tirade, Mathews challenged his neighbors “to come see me” and gave out his address.
The Mount Laurel Police Department began its investigation into the incident, first filing a harassment complaint against Mathews.
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Mathews was captured on footage referring to him as a “monkey” and a “n—-r” while bumping his chest and spitting on the man during the altercation. Facebook
Officers then received a call a short time after filing the complaint that Mathews was using racial slurs against several other residents and needed to be removed from the area.
The video of the altercation went viral, resulting in
hundreds of people flocking to his home, chanting his name, and calling for his arrest.
Mathews, who worked as a construction foreman, was taken into custody on July 5, 2021, after the protesters surrounded his townhome, located about 17 miles east of Philadelphia.
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Police escort Mathews through a crowd of people who had gathered outside his Mount Laurel, NJ, home, on July 5, 2021. AP
Following a more thorough investigation, prosecutors found that
multiple complaints had been filed with Mount Laurel police about Mathews over five years before his arrest.
Before his sentencing, Assistant County Prosecutor Jamie Hutchinson read victim impact statements from four current or former Mount Laurel condominium association residents, according to the outlet.
“The actions of what he did will forever stay a nightmare of the fear and anxiety he bestowed upon me,” Mathews’ former neighbor Denise Brown wrote in a statement. “I’m constantly looking over my shoulder and trusting no one.”
Authorities also
revealed Mathews frequently called his black neighbors “monkeys,” put feces on their property, sent threatening emails and letters, and shot their cars with BB pellets before his arrest.
The outlet reported Mathews claimed he was drunk during his verbal assault.
The claim was backed up by his now ex-wife, Shannon Schwartzhoff, who told the
Daily Mail in 2021 that her former husband had “a lot of his best friends are black.”
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Mathews claimed he was drunk during his verbal assault. Youtube/ 6abc Philadelphia
“He was drunk,” she told the outlet. “He has been having a lot of problems in the neighborhood with the Home Owners’ Association. There’s been some money gone missing and he is trying to stop that.”
Schwartzhoff has since filed for divorce and sold their townhome.
Mathews will be credited for the 886 days he has already served and will be eligible for parole in 16 months, according to the
Philadelphia Inquirer.
Judge Breland also ordered Mathews to pay $4,408 in restitution and undergo racial sensitivity training in prison.
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