A white man from Ukiah, Calif., who, in June of final yr, dedicated an inconceivable act of cowardly racism by punching an 11-year-old Black boy within the face only for interacting with white youngsters, has been sentenced to 41 months in jail after being convicted of a hate crime.
In keeping with The Bellingham Herald, 43-year-old Paul Jonathan Bittner, who was arrested on June 12, 2024, and charged with second-degree assault of a kid and fee of a hate crime, pleaded responsible to each felonies in Whatcom County Superior Courtroom on Tuesday and can spend slightly below three and a half years behind bars, adopted by 18 months in group custody.
Right here’s what occurred, by way of the Herald:
In keeping with courtroom information, an 11-year-old boy was strolling with a bunch of fellow college students again to high school following a area journey to the Pickford Movie Heart. As the category was strolling north on Grand Avenue close to the county courthouse, Bittner fell into step with the group and started strolling instantly in entrance of the 11-year-old.
The kid, who was Black, was speaking to a white buddy when Bittner, who can be white, rotated and punched him within the face. He induced the kid “immense ache,” courtroom paperwork state, and chipped one in all his tooth.
After putting the center college scholar, Bittner made a remark about how the kid was chatting with a white individual. The kid informed police that he believed the random assault occurred due to his race.
Bittner continued to make racist remarks as soon as detained by officers, in accordance with courtroom information. He repeatedly used the n-word and made references to assaulting Black folks.
Paul Bittner initially pleaded not responsible to each of the felonies he was charged with, and his arraignment — which was reportedly so closely attended that judicial officers have been involved that the authorized capability for the courtroom was being violated — led to him being discovered not competent to face trial. Bittner was despatched to Western State Hospital, the place, after a five-month keep, he was identified with schizoaffective dysfunction, bipolar kind, “which implies he experiences signs of each schizophrenia and bipolar dysfunction,” the Herald famous.
However, as all the time, psychological sickness doesn’t trigger or excuse racial hatred, so now that Bitter is displaying a “considerably totally different temperament” than he did on the time of his arrest, in accordance with Senior Deputy Prosecuting Lawyer Benjamin Pratt, he’s properly sufficient to be held accountable.
“Acts of violence towards folks motivated by any side of their id are insupportable, and our police division fastidiously investigates every incident so it may be dealt with with justice,” Bellingham Police Division Chief Rebecca Mertzig mentioned in an e-mail Tuesday. “It was because of fast work by our officers and group members that we have been in a position to maintain the offender accountable.”
As for the sufferer, a Whatcom Center College scholar who hasn’t been named publicly, his household says “he’s in a fantastic place” now that he’s had time to heal from his bodily harm and emotional and psychological trauma, that are possible ongoing.
“I’m feeling good,” the kid’s father, DeVante Blow, informed the Herald after Bittner’s sentencing. “I’m feeling as if justice was served and the group is safer.”
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