A jury Thursday in Greensboro, North Carolina, convicted Marian Hudak, 52, for committing a hate crime against a black man and a Hispanic man on separate occasions, officials stated.
It’s one thing to use racial slurs and display the KKK flag, but committing violent acts motivated by overt racial hatred and animosity is against the law and our democracy’s fundamental values, according to officials.
The defendant was held accountable for his violent and unlawful attacks on black and Hispanic members of his community,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“All people—regardless of the color of their skin or their nationality — are entitled to travel on public roads and enjoy their homes without fear of being threatened, harassed or intimidated,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Evidence at trial indicated that on Oct. 13, 2022, Hudak encountered a black man, identified as J.S., while driving in Concord, North Carolina, and shouted racial slurs at him.
After telling J.S. to “come here, boy,” Hudak swerved into J.S.’s lane, got out of his vehicle, and punched J.S.’s driver’s side window multiple times. When J.S. fled, Hudak chased him to his home, where he continued shouting racial slurs and threatened to shoot and kill him.
Evidence at trial also proved that on Nov. 27, 2021, Hudak attacked his Hispanic neighbor, J.D., outside J.D.’s home because of his nationality. Hudak shouted racially charged insults at J.D. before attacking him. Hudak punched and tackled J.D., causing J.D. to suffer bodily injury.
Additional trial witnesses testified about Hudak’s frequent anti-Hispanic comments, both before and after the attack on J.D., and about other instances where Hudak shouted slurs at, gave the middle finger to, and drove aggressively near other minority motorists in the Concord area.
Other evidence included a KKK flag, a racist publication, and Nazi memorabilia found in Hudak’s residence.
On June 26, 2023, Hudak was charged with willfully injuring, intimidating, or interfering with J.S. because of J.S.’s race and color and because J.S. was using a public facility.
Hudak was charged with willfully injuring, intimidating, or interfering with J.D. because of J.D.’s race and national origin and because J.D. was occupying a dwelling.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for May 1. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Waid and JoAnna McFadden for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.