Richmond Man Charged With Hate Crime After Alleged Threats Against Muslim Community
RICHMOND (CBS SF) -- A Richmond man was charged Wednesday for making threats to Muslims after police found a possible explosive device in his possession and arrested him Sunday, according to Contra Costa County District Attorney's officials.
William Celli, 55, pleaded not guilty in a Richmond courtroom to a charge of making a criminal threat with a hate crime enhancement as well as a charge that he attempted to violate the free exercise of civil rights, District Attorney Derek Butts said.
Detectives on Sunday served a search warrant at Celli's home in the 5100 block of McBryde Avenue after receiving a tip on Thursday that he may have manufactured explosive devices and planned to harm the community's Muslims, police said.
Police said a possible homemade explosive device was found at his home, prompting neighboring residents to be evacuated at about 2 p.m. Sunday. A bomb squad then detonated the device and no one was harmed.
Richmond Mayor Tom Butt said in a statement today that he "(commended) the Richmond Police Department for their work in stopping what could have been a tragic attack in our community."
He said he was "very grateful" no one was hurt and that efforts will be supported to stop "any individual or group that seeks to terrorize or harm our residents."
Butt added, "Clearly, this threat had been influenced by the hateful and divisive rhetoric that is being used on a national level by presidential candidates."
He was referencing Celli's Facebook posts, in which he expresses support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and says he would follow Trump to "the end of the world."
Among other political tirades, Celli opined on Facebook that "Hispanics coming to my country under false pretenses ... need to go back home."
He also spoke of an influx of Muslims to the U.S., saying, "Kiss your Christian asses good bye. And all other non-believers of the Koran."
The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for federal charges for Celli, as well as increased security at mosques and an overall rejection of anti-Muslim political rhetoric.
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