Iraq War veteran pleads guilty to vandalizing mosque

A 23-year-old Iraq War veteran will serve 35 days in jail for vandalizing a window of a Vancouver mosque this summer.

Trace M. Adams of Vancouver reportedly told authorities that he smashed the window because he “hates Muslims,” Deputy Prosecutor Jim David told the judge on Thursday.

Adams pleaded guilty to malicious harassment of the Islamic Society of Southwest Washington. He will also serve one year of community supervision.

Adams was caught breaking a window on Aug. 12 at the mosque at 1000 N.E. 66th St. When the mosque director followed and confronted him, Adams had cuts on his hands, David told Clark County Superior Court Judge Robert Lewis.

Questioned by authorities, Adams said he had served in Iraq for the military from 2009 to 2010 and hated Muslims, David said. Adams then reportedly called the mosque director a racial slur, the deputy prosecutor said. The broken window was valued at $400.

Malicious harassment, a felony, is defined as placing a person or member of a group in fear of harm because of their race or religion.