Scott F. Cooney.jpg

Scott Cooney (Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)

A Lakewood man pleaded guilty to carving this swastika in the front yard of a local home last year. (Ocean County Prosecutor's Office).

LAKEWOOD -- A local man who carved a swastika into someone's yard has pleaded guilty under the state's bias-intimidation law, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

The Aug. 10, 2014, incident was the culmination of a campaign of harassment and threats by Scott Cooney, 36, the victims said. They told police Cooney had been bothering them for several months when he was seen around 1:30 p.m. with a lead pipe, scratching something out on the front lawn. The victims, fearful of provoking Cooney, remained inside. When Cooney left, the victims entered their yard and saw the swastika carved out in the lawn. They took a picture of the marking and called police.

Following an investigation, Cooney was arrested at his home four days later and ordered to stay away from the victims.

Cooney faces up to 18 months in prison on the fourth-degree charge.

The state's bias intimidation law applies to victims intimidated or harassed for a characteristic, such as race, gender or sexual orientation.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.