Montgomery Community Media

The teen, who was arrested and charged with vandalizing a Gaithersburg synagogue, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, according to court documents. Sebastian Espinoza-Carranza was charged with defacement of religious property, damage to a religious institution, and malicious destruction of property for the antisemitic graffiti found on Shaare Torah Synagogue in Gaithersburg back in April. His sentencing is set […]

It was an emotional interview for Sebastian Espinoza-Carranza at his home in Gaithersburg. The teen was arrested and charged with vandalizing a Gaithersburg synagogue. The 18-year-old teen says he is not a racist person and that he is really sorry. The congregation’s surveillance video helped lead police to Spinoza-Carranza. It shows him allegedly spray painting swastikas, […]

In an interview outside his Gaithersburg home today, the 18-year-old charged with vandalism at the Shaare Torah synagogue says he is not a racist person and that he is really sorry. “I want to say that I really regret what I did and I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. … I’m not a […]

From the beginning, video played a key role in the vandalism case at the Shaare Torah synagogue and today Montgomery County Police said it was a video from a nearby business that resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect. Corporal Rebecca Innocenti answered questions about the arrest of that teen in front of the […]

UPDATED Gaithersburg police officers are looking for the vandal(s) who defaced the Shaare Torah synagogue in Gaithersburg. “At this time, detectives are continuing to investigate the incident,” said Officer Dane Lane. “They are following up on leads and speaking with citizens who may have or may not have seen anything. We are always looking for more […]

Gaithersburg Police Chief Mark Sroka said detectives have identified a “person of interest” who could be involved in the Shaare Torah Synagogue vandalism case. Local authorities have surveillance footage showing a masked person running away from the building.  Sroka said the report came in at 7:10 a.m. this morning. That’s when police officers found eleven swastikas and other […]

UPDATED Montgomery County police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at the Great Seneca Highway entrance of the Lakelands community in Gaithersburg at 7:49 p.m. on Sept. 23. According to the police department’s preliminary investigation, a 2003 Toyota Highlander was traveling south on Great Seneca Highway. Investigators said a 1999 black Lexus LS 400 […]