N. Bergen mom, son in Santeria arrest
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
In what authorities say was part of a Santeria ritual, a North Bergen woman and her son have been charged with dumping bags on a Spring Lake beach that contained decapitated chickens, ducks, Guinea hens and pigeons, as well as trash.
Diana Hernandez, 51, and her son, Alain Hernandez, 32, were each charged Monday with 10 counts of animal cruelty, said Victor "Buddy" Amato, chief of police for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Amato said both admitted they were carrying out a Santeria religious practice to create wealth and prosperity when a witness spotted them on Sunday night disposing of five bags on a Spring Lake beach.
The witness took down their license plate, which led police to them so quickly, Amato said.
Hernandez and her son came to the Spring Lake police station under their own volition with an attorney on Monday.
"They were very well mannered, very articulate, and very polite," Amato said.
Diana Hernandez, a santera, or leader in the religion, told authorities she and her son traveled to Spring Lake to dispose of the carcasses, because she was directed to by another santera.
Three of the five bags laid at shore's edge were swept out to sea by the tides. These charges are based on the two bags the police examined, Amato said.
Each count carries a $1,000 penalty and the cruelty to animals charge can carry up to six months in jail, Amato said. The mother and son are due in Spring Lake Municipal Court on May 21 at 9:30 a.m.
The mother and son may face additional charges for littering, said Spring Lake Police Capt. Marc Evangelista.
Santeria is a melding of Christian and African religious beliefs that sometimes uses the ritualistic sacrifice of animals in order to secure favors from its deities.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
In what authorities say was part of a Santeria ritual, a North Bergen woman and her son have been charged with dumping bags on a Spring Lake beach that contained decapitated chickens, ducks, Guinea hens and pigeons, as well as trash.
Diana Hernandez, 51, and her son, Alain Hernandez, 32, were each charged Monday with 10 counts of animal cruelty, said Victor "Buddy" Amato, chief of police for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Amato said both admitted they were carrying out a Santeria religious practice to create wealth and prosperity when a witness spotted them on Sunday night disposing of five bags on a Spring Lake beach.
The witness took down their license plate, which led police to them so quickly, Amato said.
Hernandez and her son came to the Spring Lake police station under their own volition with an attorney on Monday.
"They were very well mannered, very articulate, and very polite," Amato said.
Diana Hernandez, a santera, or leader in the religion, told authorities she and her son traveled to Spring Lake to dispose of the carcasses, because she was directed to by another santera.
Three of the five bags laid at shore's edge were swept out to sea by the tides. These charges are based on the two bags the police examined, Amato said.
Each count carries a $1,000 penalty and the cruelty to animals charge can carry up to six months in jail, Amato said. The mother and son are due in Spring Lake Municipal Court on May 21 at 9:30 a.m.
The mother and son may face additional charges for littering, said Spring Lake Police Capt. Marc Evangelista.
Santeria is a melding of Christian and African religious beliefs that sometimes uses the ritualistic sacrifice of animals in order to secure favors from its deities.
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Re: N. Bergen mom, son in Santeria arrest
Sun, May 4, 2008 - 10:59 PMmany blessings and respect to all.
where is this?
what are the provisions protecting freedom of religion? does it very greatly from state to state?
