TEXAS
A federal judge sentence a 29-year-old man to five years and 11 months in prison after the defendant admitted that he attacked an 81-year-old black man, according to officials.
Conrad Alvin Barrett, of Katy, Texas, attacked the elderly victim because of the man’s race and color on Nov. 24, 2013, according to authorities. Barrett called the attack a “knockout,” officials said.
Barrett, who video recorded the incident, was convicted of a federal hate crime.
“The defendant committed this shocking and violent assault against this vulnerable elderly man simply because he was African American,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of victims of violent crimes are vindicated.”
“The sentencing of the defendant today represents our office’s continuing commitment to enforce senseless acts that violate our federal civil rights laws,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. “Every citizen is entitled to this protection.”
Barrett violated the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Evidence indicated that Barrett recorded himself on his cell phone attacking the African-American man.
In the recording, Barrett questions whether there would be national attention if he attacked a person of color. Barrett also claimed he would not hit “defenseless people” just moments before punching the elderly man in the face and with such force that the victim immediately fell to the ground.
Barrett then laughed and said “knockout” as he ran to his vehicle and fled. The victim suffered two jaw fractures and was hospitalized for several days as a result of the attack, according to officials.
(June 2015 News Report)