ALABAMA – A grand jury indicted a white man who threatened a black man at a restaurant with one felony and two misdemeanor counts of interference with a federally-protected activity, according to authorities.
Jeremy Heath Higgins, 28, also threatened another person who ordered Higgins to leave the restaurant because of his behavior, officials said.
Higgins, 28, was charged in a three count indictment returned Wednesday by a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court. The indictment charges him with one felony count and two misdemeanor counts of interference with a federally-protected activity.
On June 14, 2013, Higgins approached and threatened an African-American man at the Alabama Rose Steakhouse because the man was present at the restaurant with a white woman, according to the indictment.
Higgins allegedly shouted a threat to burn down the restaurant. The indictment further alleges that Higgins threatened the person who had ordered him to leave the restaurant by painting graffiti on the restaurant’s exterior and fence.
Higgins is facing up to 10 years in prison and up to a year behind bars for each misdemeanor charge.
The case was investigated by the FBI.