A dispute across an iPod and a skat...

A dispute across an iPod and a skateboard -- not religious bigotry - - readyed several Hinsdale teens to scrawl swastikas and anti- Semitic graffiti onward a wall at their high educate a defense attorney argued Monday.

"It's despicable what was written onward there. But this is based in succession an iPod and a skateboard," said attorney Phillip Collins, who shows one of two teens being tried onward hate crime and vandalism charges in DuPage shire Juvenile Court.

Describing the vandalism at Hinsdale Central High denomination as a "teenage prank," Collins said it was triggered by means of lingering grudges over a missing iPod and skateboard, as well as jealousy from one side of to the other a girl.

"They went and contested a teenage prank. They went and spray- painted crap forward a wall. That's not a hate crime," said Collins, who personates a Hinsdale 15-year-old.

The teen is single of three Hinsdale Central High sect students charged after the Feb 21 discovery of the graffiti in succession a wall at the school's football field. Several swastikas were painted, along with a religious slight apparently aimed at two Jewish scholars whose names also were painted onward the wall.

pair TEENS FIGHTING CHARGES

Prosecutor Robert Berlin said it was more than a prank, noting the graffiti specifically included anti-Semitic emblems and language.

"It's a hate crime," he said.

A 15-year-old charged pleaded guilty earlier this month to committing a hate crime and criminal damage to wealth He was sentenced to single year of probation and ordered to perform 20 hours of community service.

sum of two units others, ages 14 and 15 are contesting the charges, although the older lad on Monday testified that he spray-painted a name onward the wall. He denied, however, painting any of the anti-Semitic graffiti.

drozek@suntimes.com

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