Houston Synagogue on edge after woman is charged with breaking in twice, and making online threats

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Houston woman is accused of vandalizing a Jewish synagogue before returning and yelling at children days later.

Ezra Law, 33, is charged with two counts of criminal mischief and violated the terms of her bond. A judge revoked it and sent her to jail following a court appearance Monday morning.

ABC13 obtained an internal email sent to congregation members. According to the email, Law broke into the Congregation Emanu El on Sunset Boulevard on Jan. 14 and damaged property inside, including a window.

She allegedly was not discovered for six hours because the security system was down for maintenance, for at least a part of that time.

Law was arrested and charged in the first break-in as a misdemeanor. Prosecutors say while she was out on bond, she began to post several threats and rambling messages on Instagram, some tagging the synagogue specifically.

"The state moved for the revocation of her bond," Erica Winsor, a prosecutor on the case, said. "She was granted a (personal recognizance) bond Sunday morning. Since that time, she has continued to post on social media, and tag this particular synagogue in those posts. They are definitely threatening or harassing."

Prosecutors said she extensively vandalized the synagogue during the break-in. Documents say she caused between $750 and $2,500 worth of damage.

Winsor said while she was inside the synagogue, Law spilled wine on a Torah Scroll and a robe she was wearing, which belonged to the Rabbi.

On Jan. 20, when Law missed a court appearance, Winsor convinced a judge to issue a warrant for her arrest.

Then, on Jan. 21, Law allegedly broke into the synagogue again. According to the internal email, Law accessed the building through a propped open door. She reportedly entered the chapel and a children's Shabbat service. Employees immediately recognized her and called the authorities.

Law was re-arrested that same day on an upgraded charge and warrant from the first incident.

During her court appearance Monday, several congregation members were in attendance.

"We felt strongly about coming," Lindsey Putterman said. "Because our kids are students at the school and were terrified. We are terrified. We're moms, and we're glad the court is taking the right steps in the right direction."

Officials at Emanu El would not talk on camera but admitted to security lapses in the internal email:

Our personnel failures and the breaches in Emanu El's security over this past week are totally unacceptable, and we make no excuse for them. Over the past few days, we have learned much about the shortcomings of our security systems and the protocols that were not followed carefully during these times of crisis.

Monday night, synagogue staff members could be seen walking the perimeter of Emanu El, led by Al Tribble, the Director of Community Security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston.

Tribble, a retired FBI agent, said houses of worship are often more vulnerable because they are designed to be welcoming.

"In houses of worship, they're open," he said. "They open their doors to everyone. The people who go there, they open their hearts to everyone, and that makes them particularly vulnerable."

Tribble would not comment on the specific incident but said he is working with all Jewish facilities in the greater Houston area to re-evaluate and improve security with a holistic approach.

"What do people see when they see this facility? How accessible is it? Is there a fence? Is it well-lit? Do they have vegetation that someone could hide behind? Do you have armed security? When do you have armed security? Are there lapses in security? If you have cameras, do they have dead spots? If there is lighting, do you have enough lighting? All of those things, we look at," Tribble said.

Law is currently being held without bond. Her next court appearance is Friday.

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