Bruce Lion of Lion Raisins is arrested; Jewish neighbors blamed the tirades
A member of the family that owns a California raisin company is facing hate speech charges after allegedly attacking his Jewish neighbors in Pacific Palisades.
On Wednesday, Bruce Lion, who was arrested over the weekend, is scheduled to appear in court. But the trial was reportedly postponed because the suspect, 64, would not leave his cell.
Lyon was charged with one count of using threats or force because of the beliefs of another person and two counts of threatening to “commit a crime with intent to intimidate,” according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.
Police have released few details about the case. Lyon remains in custody on $225,000 bail, according to the LA County district attorney’s office. He did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Court records did not list the name of the attorney representing him in his case.
A lion was arrested Saturday morning in Palisades after what a neighbor described as an anti-Semitic attack. He allegedly harassed his Jewish neighbors for weeks, including threatening to commit crimes, said Rabbi Zushe Cunin of Pacific Palisades’ Chabad Jewish Community Center.
Cunin, who lives in a house near Lion’s house, told the Times that he does not remember experiencing “this level of strong expression of religious dissent.”
After he refused to leave his cell Wednesday, his trial was delayed, Fresno-based ABC reported. It will be Thursday, the DA’s office said.
If convicted of all charges, Lion could face nine years and four months in state prison, according to a news release.
Cunin said Sunday he has been a Westside resident for more than 30 years. At the beginning of the year, Bhubesi moved to a nearby house, and the rabbi said that things started to get tense.
Cunin described in detail the times when the Lion allegedly went to the Rabbi’s wife and uttered words of opposition: “I hate you, Jews, you killed my king and savior, your husband killed my king and savior.” Another incident includes allegations that he ran over a church car.
This behavior allegedly continued for several weeks, with many neighbors calling the police almost daily, according to Cunin.
The Los Angeles Police Department did not release details about the investigation. Court documents do not provide details on the allegations or state objections.
On Wednesday, Lion Raisins made its first public statement, saying the reports about Lion’s behavior were “deeply troubling.”
“We unequivocally condemn racism, bigotry, and all forms of hatred, bigotry, and intolerance,” the statement said, according to the Fresno-based organization Fox.
The company added that Lion “does not play a significant role” in the day-to-day operations of the business.
Because Cunin is the director of the Chabad Jewish Community Center, he often hosts religious gatherings at his home, he said. But in recent months, several members of the community want to move these services. Cunin disagreed.
“I understand why many people say get out of here, but that’s not what we believe. We don’t believe in letting people like these terrorize the public,” said Cunin.
Times staff writers Tony Briscoe and Clara Harter contributed to this report.
