A Springboro man is facing charges of ethnic intimidation and menacing following an incident outside a Jewish school in Golf Manor.
Jackson Mettler, 19, was charged in connection with a May 4 incident at Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati on Section Road.
“A Jewish child should be able to walk to school without being threatened for being Jewish,” said the Jewish Federation in a statement. “That is unacceptable in our city.”
According to court documents, Mettler yelled “f*** the Jews“ and “Free Palestine“ at a victim outside the school. He also told the victim, “If I were you, I’d get my a** back inside.“ The victim went back inside, fearing for his safety and the safety of other students.
“Free speech is protected,” said the Jewish Federation’s statement. “Threatening a child is a crime. When threats against a Jewish child are wrapped in the language of political protest, that is antisemitism. The criminal charge reflects that line.“
Ethnic intimidation can result in a first-degree misdemeanor or a fifth-degree felony conviction in Ohio.
Mettler was released from jail without having to post bond.
The incident is the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents in the Cincinnati area over the past two years. In February, Neo-Nazis displayed antisemitic banners over I-75 while wearing assault rifles. Antisemitic graffiti was found on sidewalks in downtown Cincinnati earlier this month.
According to FBI data released in August of 2025, Jews represented 70% of all religious hate crimes in the U.S., the highest number of incidents since the bureau began tracking in 1991.
If you witness or experience an antisemitic incident, you can report to the Jewish Federation here. If you feel you are in danger, call 911.