TEMPE, Ariz. — A former constable conspired to stage a “religious hate crime” and set fire to his own home in Arizona, investigators said Monday.
Jonathan Levenson, 30, a former Maricopa County constable, has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit arson of an occupied structure, conspiracy to commit fraud schemes and false reporting to law enforcement, all as part of a plan to collect insurance money, according to KNXV.
The scheme involved paying an arsonist to set fire to Levenson’s home and applying anti-Semitic graffiti outside while Levenson was away during Yom Kippur.
According to the investigation, Levenson made a series of false reports to police leading up to the planned arson.
In May, he reported to Tempe police that someone had spray-painted the word “Jew” on his car but he’d washed the paint off his car before realizing he should have taken photos. Then in June, he reported that vandals put anti-Semitic symbols on his home.
After his arrest, Levenson admitted to the arson plan but said he decided not to go through with it.