San Francisco, CA –  San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that her office secured a conviction of Deon Vonzell Brimmer (43), after a trial by jury for breaking into and vandalizing a synagogue. Mr. Brimmer was convicted of second-degree burglary (PC 459) and vandalism (PC 594(b)(2)(A)).

“The jury’s verdict holds Mr. Brimmer accountable for his crimes and sends a message that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated in San Francisco,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “My office will do everything we can to protect the safety of the public and make sure our communities get justice after unsettling and disturbing intrusions like this.”

According to evidence and other testimony presented at trial, in the morning hours of August 7, 2023, Mr. Brimmer broke into Congregation Sherith Israel, a synagogue located at the corner of California Street and Webster Street, through a back window. Upon entry, he triggered an audible alarm which he then tried to disable by vandalizing and damaging various pieces of alarm equipment. Security footage from inside the synagogue showed Mr. Brimmer casing the building and looking for items to take. When he was interrupted, he impersonated a security guard by donning a congregant’s suit coat and a “Sherith Israel” identification tag he found in a closet and ultimately confronted a synagogue employee demanding payment for “security services.” After realizing that the synagogue employee was not going to pay him any money, he left the premises and was found, detained and arrested five days later approximately one mile away.

The case against Mr. Brimmer was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Abigail Adams, with assistance from paralegal Rayna Bryan and IT support from Noaeh Pinaire and Leland Chan.

“Places of worship are sacred, and the law affords them protections from violations such as the burglary in this case,” said Assistant District Attorney Abigail Adams. “I am grateful to the jury for carefully considering the evidence and holding Defendant accountable for this violation of Sherith Israel, its employees and its congregants.”

Mr. Brimmer is currently out of custody. Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2024.

Court Numbers: 23012642