CALIFORNIA – A man was sentenced today to 5 years and 10 months in prison for beating a white man and his companion, a black woman, during a racially motivated hate crime at a convenience store in Marysville, according to federal officials.
U.S. District Court Judge John Mendez sentenced Perry Sylvester Jackson, 28, of Marysville after Jackson plead guilty last year to the racially motivated attack.
Co-defendant Billy James Hammett, who also plead guilty, was sentenced on March 25, 2014, to serve seven years and three months. Anthony Merrell Tyler, 33, also plead guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The FBI investigated the case.
Court documents show that around 10:45 p.m. on April 18, 2011, a white man and an African-American woman parked their car at a convenience store in Marysville.
Shortly afterward, officials said the three defendants attacked the man and woman after calling the male victim a “[racial slur]-lover,” Jackson, who has the words “white power” tattooed on his legs, punched him twice in the head through the open passenger window, officials said.
At the same time, Hammett kicked the woman in the chest. A few seconds later, Tyler smashed the car’s windshield with a crowbar.
As the attack continued, the woman managed to take refuge inside the convenience store. All three assailants then descended upon the male victim and began attacking him in the parking lot.
He sustained abrasions on his right forearm and knees, while the woman suffered bruising to her chest. At the end of the incident, Tyler used a racial slur to refer to an African-American witness.
Tyler is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2014, where he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.