A 38-year-old Montgomery County man was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on felony ethnic-intimidation and other charges for allegedly harassing a mixed-race family who has lived across the street for several years.
If convicted, Matthew Rutkowski of Schwenksville could face up to 12 years in prison on charges stemming from complaints filed by Pam and Howard Margolis.
- RELATED STORIES
- Montgomery County family faces tough decision: keep dealing with 'menacing' neighbor or move out
- In the case of Montgomery County family vs. 'menacing' neighbor, bikers ride to the rescue
- WATCH: Motorcycle club rolls through pouring rain to support 'bullied' Montgomery County family
The couple alleged that he has harassed them – and their two grown children – with racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic slurs and actions as far back as 2012.
But the charges in the pending matter – ethnic intimidation, which is a felony, and stalking, harassment and disorderly conduct misdemeanors – cover alleged confrontations since 2017.
“I didn’t think it would go this far,” said Pam Margolis, moments before the proceedings began.
At a 25-minute preliminary hearing before District Judge Albert L. Augustine in Harleysville on Wednesday afternoon, Deputy District Attorney Samantha Cauffman added the felony charges to those already filed against Rutkowski.
Rutkowski – who wore a black T-shirt, green cargo shorts and tan sandals to court – neither testified at the hearing nor looked at Pam Margolis when she took the stand as one of just two witnesses in the case.
She chronicled incidents in June 2017 and in July and August of this year that were detailed in a recent PhillyVoice article.
“I think he’s going to get his just desserts. Everybody is tired of this circus act.” – District Judge Albert L. Augustine
In one case, she testified, Rutkowski harassed her husband as he walked their dog Bailey, saying “n***** dog, n***** lover, n***** family” to him, which prompted them to call police.
“I was disgusted, scared, threatened and fearful,” she said as Howard was sequestered from the courtroom in case he’d be called to testify later, which he wasn’t. “I was afraid to walk the dog alone. I was afraid that I’d be confronted, that he’d call me names or do something worse.”
She alleged that Rutkowski again yelled that racial slur as the couple walked the dog past his house on July 4 and again when he drove past them on the street outside their homes on August 5.
“He makes us uncomfortable in our neighborhood, and that’s not right,” she said. “We never know what he’s going to do next. … It makes me feel like a bad mother because I can’t protect (my children.)”
That latter statement was an allusion to the allegation that Rutkowski left homophobic chalk drawings on the Margolis driveway and allegedly filmed (or appeared to film) their daughter on several occasions in a “creepy” fashion.
'HE SAID THEY WERE ACTING LIKE N******'
On cross-examination, Rutkowksi attorney Scott McIntosh laid the groundwork for a possible defense: the defendant did not know she was African-American due to her skin tone, and that name-calling in and of itself isn’t illegal.
He also asked Pam Margolis if she knew what was causing Rutkowski to behave in the fashion she alleged. The judge sustained Cauffman’s objection to that line of questioning.
Next on the stand was Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Joseph Gilbert, who responded to the Margolis call in August. Gilbert noted that Rutkowski admitted he drove past the couple but denied yelling anything at them.
“He said that he did not yell that at them but that they were acting like n*****s,” testified Gilbert who, along with another trooper, told the Margolises after the hearing that they should call the Schwenksville barracks any time something happens along those lines.
McIntosh then questioned why the police reports didn’t indicate that Pam Margolis was black until seven weeks after the incident and questioned if the allegations rose to the level of the charges filed.
“It’s a neighborhood dispute, just two people that don’t like each other,” he said.
Augustine then ordered that Rutkowski stand trial on all charges and scheduled the next court appearance for November 28 at the county courthouse in Norristown.
As part of his bail agreement, Rutkowski – who reportedly filed a harassment complaint against Pam Margolis last week – remains ordered to stay away from the couple. Should that be violated, Cauffman said she would seek to have his bail revoked.
“I think he’s going to get his just desserts,” Augustine said. “Everybody is tired of this circus act.”
Follow Brian & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @brianphickey | @thePhillyVoice
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice
Add Brian's RSS feed to your feed reader
Have a news tip? Let us know.