Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the arrest of 28-year-old Stefan Keco of Clifton, for sending threatening text messages to Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora, who was officially sworn in on February 4.
Officials say chief Baycora became the first Muslim American Chief in the Paterson Police Department and is a first-generation Turkish-American immigrant. Stefan Keco was charged with two counts of Terroristic Threats, a crime of the third degree and one count of Bias Intimidation, a crime of the second degree.
The State has filed a motion for pretrial detention of Mr. Keco, which is scheduled to be heard by Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Portelli on Wednesday, March 4. The defendant is being held at the Passaic County Jail, pending the pretrial detention hearing.
The charges allege that Keco sent threatening text messages to Chief Baycora with the purpose of intimidating him because of the Chief’s religion, race, and national origin, according to officials.
Crimes of the Second Degree carry a maximum of ten (10) years in New Jersey State Prison, while crimes of the Third Degree carry a maximum of five (5) years in New Jersey State Prison.
The Paterson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and played an integral role in this investigation.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Department at 973-321- 1120.
Any inquiries may be directed to Passaic County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Vivian Khalil. She can be reached at (973) 837-7705 or vkhalil@passaiccountynj.org