The Cumberland County (Pa.) Muslim judge who reprimanded an atheist who brought charges against a Muslim man for allegedly attacking him during the Mechanicsburg Halloween Parade, Oct. 11, 2011 has been subject to a “private rebuke of his behavior” by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Judicial Conduct Board, WorldNetDaily.Com has reported.
The atheist, Ernest Perce V, wore a “zombie Muhammed” costume during the parade which allegedly prompted Tallag Elbayomy to storm from the sidewalk and pull a sign off his neck.
Perce is the state director of American Atheists.
Perce went to police and after an investigation in which police said Elbayomy confirmed there was physical contact, harassment charges were filed against Elbayomy. The charge was dismissed at a Dec. 6 preliminary hearing before Magisterial Judge Mark Martin who told Perce, among other things, that “What you’ve done is you’ve completely trashed their essence, their being. They find it very, very offensive. I’m a Muslim. I find offensive.”
Since the incident Perce has reportedly received 471 verifiable threats.
According to WorldNetDaily, Joseph A. Massa Jr., the chief counsel for the Judicial Conduct Board, said a letter has been sent to Martin stating: The board recently concluded its investigation regarding the complaint you filed against Magisterial District Judge Mark Martin, Cumberland County. The board voted to issue a letter of caution to Judge Martin as a private rebuke of his behavior and, thereafter, to close the case.
Perce recorded the hearing and has placed it on YouTube embedded below: