Edward Mathews: NJ man who bullied Black people apologizes for 'disrespectful words' after sentencing
MOUNT LAUREL, NEW JERSEY: A New Jersey man broke down into tears for his past deeds in the court on Friday, December 8, after being sentenced to eight years in prison for racially abusing his black neighbors. In July 2021, Edward Mathews, 47, went viral when he was seen hurling racial abuse at a black neighbor and spitting on him.
It only later came to light that Mathews had traumatized black people for years who were living in the Essex Palace condominium in Mount Laurel, 17 miles east of Philadelphia.
Edward Mathews asked for forgiveness in the court
Victims recalled how Mathews had fired BB pellets at their cars, called them 'monkeys', put feces on their properties, and sent them threatening emails and letters. On Friday, December 8, a shackled and handcuffed Mathews, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, apologized for 'my insensitive and disrespectful words in the past,' the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
He expressed remorse that his actions had put an end to his marriage and hurt his family, saying his wife filed for divorce and sold their townhome.
NEW: New Jersey man Edward Mathews sobs in court after getting sentenced to eight years in prison for harassing, abusing, spitting on and terrorizing his black neighbors.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 9, 2023
In a viral video, Mathews is seen calling his neighbors “monkeys” and the “n”word.
It was later discovered… pic.twitter.com/6G0tumb2CL
Eward Mathews' wife previously defended him
Mathews' ex-wife, Shannon Schwartzhoff, previously said in 2021 that he was not a racist, saying, "A lot of his best friends are black." Schwartzhoff blamed his racist outburst on his alcohol consumption.
"He was drunk," she said, adding "And he has been having a lot of problems in the neighborhood with the Home Owners' Association. There's been some money gone missing and he is trying to stop that."
In court covering the sentencing for Edward Mathews who pleaded guilty to making a racist rant in 2021 in his South Jersey neighborhood and harassing residents and using slurs against Black neighbors. He was taken into custody after protestors surrounded his home for hours. pic.twitter.com/clMmLb2WXo
— Melanie Burney (@MLBURNEY) December 8, 2023
Edward Mathews spent the last two-and-a-half years in jail
Mathews was seen spitting on his black Air Force serviceman neighbor, telling him he was from Africa and using the N word. Mathews, a construction foreman, has spent the last two-and a-half years in jail and lost all of his possessions, he said on Friday, December 8. "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future," he told the judge, adding "I want to commit to rebuild the community."
The assistant county prosecutor, Jamie Hutchinson, read victim impact statements from four current or former residents of the Mount Laurel condominium association.
LeRon Brown, the former homeowners' association president, who is black, and his wife, Denise, who is white, moved out in 2021 after numerous altercations with Mathews. The couple had lived there since the development opened in 2001.
"The actions of what he did will forever stay a nightmare of the fear and anxiety he bestowed upon me", Denise Brown wrote in a statement, adding "I'm constantly looking over my shoulder and trusting no one." Another black member of the homeowners' association also moved away following Mathews' abuse.
Edward Mathews' extensive criminal record
Mathews has had 11 felony convictions since 1995, including for drugs, which barred him from having weapons, and yet a slingshot and 30 rounds of ball-bearing ammunition were found in his home, plus hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Judge Gerard Breland ordered Mathews to pay $4,408 in restitution and undergo racial sensitivity training in prison, The Inquirer reported. Mathews has been in custody since his arrest, and will get credit for the 886 days spent in jail. He will be eligible for parole in about 16 months.
