Crofton case updates

By Diane Joy Schmidt

The person who on June 2, 2026 smashed Congregation Albert's front doors, setting off their gunshot alarm, and then 8 minutes later attacked the more resistant inner doors of the JCC with a wrecker's bar, after which he was pursued and sprayed by JCC security with a foam irritant, Rex Crofton was arrested by the APD with the FBI the next morning and has been continuously in official custody. Following the state magistrate judge's determination to release him to home detention on June 12, he was immediately re-arrested by federal officers in the building — he never left the building. JUNE 16: At a detention hearing in federal court on June 16th, where he was represented by a public defender, Crofton was charged with a hate crime against religious property, with a possible enhanced three-year sentence. Following testimony by the FBI agent and witnesses from the community, the federal judge determined that there was probable cause to hold him because he poses a danger to himself or others, and he will remain in federal custody pending further proceedings. UPDATE JUNE 29th: Crofton's arraignment was held on June 29th. Dressed in a red and white striped prisoner uniform and in chains, Crofton stood before the judge with his public defender, who patted him on the back, and entered a plea of not guilty. After two weeks in federal custody, to this observer, he appeared to have lost weight and to be less sure of himself. His next court appearance will take place in the third week of July.