Nationwide — Paul Jonathan Bittner, a 43-year-old man who punched an African American child in a racially-motivated attack in Washington, has been sentenced to just over 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to assault and hate crime charges…CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
On June 12, 2024, an 11-year-old boy was walking back to school with classmates after a field trip when Bittner approached him and punched him in the face without warning.
According to People, the boy, who is Black, later told police he believed he was targeted because of his race. Witnesses and court records confirmed that Bittner made racist comments after the attack, including using the n-word and mentioning the child’s interaction with a White person.
Bittner was arrested shortly after the incident. According to court documents, he continued making racist threats while in custody, including repeated slurs and statements about harming Black people.
The boy suffered a fractured tooth and a nose injury. His father, Devante, described the attack as completely unprovoked. “The toughest part about this is that my son was doing nothing. Nothing wrong. And was attacked. Attacked because of his skin color. Because he didn’t look like his attacker,” he said.
Bittner had a documented history of mental illness. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and was initially found incompetent to stand trial. He was sent to a hospital for 90 days of treatment before facing charges.
At the trial, the prosecutor noted Bittner appeared calmer following his hospitalization. He was sentenced on Tuesday and remains in custody with bail set at $500,000.
The victim’s family is still processing the trauma. “I was mad, sad, confused,” the boy said…CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
