Seattle, United States (April 03, 2013): According to media reports a US Federal Grand Jury in Seattle has indicted a man named Jamie Larson (49) from Washington on charges of hate crime against a 50-year-old Sikh.
The accused has been reportedly charged with one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act that was enacted in October 2009.
“The indictment of Jamie Larson, 49, of Federal Way, Wash., replaces earlier state charges. Conviction under the federal hate crimes statute carries a potential penalty of 10 years in prison”, The Los Angles Times has reported.
“The single-page indictment does not provide details of the attack. It alleges that on October 17, 2012, Larson assaulted the victim, identified as K.H., in Federal Way based upon the victim’s actual and perceived race, colour and national origin”, reads a news by Times of India (TOI).
“However, state charges that were initially filed in the incident said Larson attacked his Sikh cab driver, beating him savagely and using racially charged language. The complaint says Larson pulled part of the man’s beard out, which was found by police on the ground, local media reported” it reads further.
The defendant was reportedly arrested at the scene of the attack after a witness called 911.
“Attacks such as this one, based on prejudice and racial hate, are contrary to who we are and violate the law,” said US Attorney Jenny A Durkan.
“Protecting the civil rights of all the members of our community is a top priority for our office,” he said.
California-headquartered North American Punjabi Association expressed its satisfaction on Larson’s indictment, saying “these kinds of racial attacks are a slam of glorious history of our Country.