Stoughton family says they can finally sleep at night after arrest is made in hate crime case

STOUGHTON (WITI) -- A man is behind bars, and police say he's responsible for a hate crime that targeted a Stoughton family.

The family targeted says now that someone is behind bars, they'll be able to get a good night's sleep for the first time in months.

"I just opened the letter and when I opened it -- it just threw me back. That's a lynching," Harry and Hester Hale said.

A textbook picture of a lynching, photocopied with the words "Your days are numbered" was addressed to Harry and Hester Hale's 18-year-old son.

"Going outside looking over our shoulders because we didn't know," Harry and Hester Hale said.

The Hale family says they took turns sleeping -- always on the lookout -- taking the threat very seriously.

"The community has been real supportive, watching out, looking out for us, it's been wonderful," Harry and Hester Hale said.

The community even organized a walk to benefit the family.

Now, the DNA evidence is in -- leading police to arrest Matthew Cimaroli -- someone they could link to the Hales son back in April -- but not to the letter.

"He put it in the context of race and I think that's where the hate crime enhancer comes into play," Harry and Hester Hale said.

Police say he says the target was the younger Hale, and he did it because of alleged stolen drug money.

"What you did was wrong. You make your bed, you lie in it, and these new allegations, come on," Harry and Hester Hale said.

Harry says since this incident, his son has moved out -- not feeling safe. Now, he's glad his family can finally rest easy.

"I'm going to sleep good tonight though," Harry and Hester Hale said.

Cimaroli is being charged with felony threat to injure -- enhanced by the hate crime.