An Essex County District Court judge ordered a Beverly man charged with threatening to kill Jews, held without bail.
34-year-old Matthew Scouras appeared in Salem District Court Monday for a dangerousness hearing.
Prosecutors allege Matthew Scouras, using his mother’s internet at their Beverly home, made anonymous anti-Semitic posts on a social media platform known as 4Chan on New Year’s Day.
The statements contained slurs that were too hateful for us to air.
The threats included killing and raping Jewish people.
One post read, “If everyone just started shooting Jews at their Synagogues, all this can stop overnight.”
In his bedroom closet, police say they found guns, including a 9MM ghost gun, gun parts, ammunition, 70-thousand dollars cash, and a white supremacist flag.
Scouras was arrested last week.
At this hearing, a prosecutor argued Matthew Scouras was too dangerous to release.
“I would argue these anti-Semitic feelings arguably caused the defendant to amass the weapons and other components and ammunition,” prosecutor Erin Bellavia told the court.
Scouras’ attorney argues that prosecutors are overreaching.
“Is he a threat to anyone?” Boston 25 News Reporter Bob Ward asked.
“I don’t believe he’s a threat to anyone,” Defense Attorney Richard Chambers said. “As I said, there was no bomb-making materials in there, there was no ledger of selling things, there were no connections with any white supremacist organizations, he’s not connected to anything like that. No evidence.”
Matthew Scouras will next appear in Salem District Court for a Probable Cause hearing on February 12.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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