(WWJ) A man charged with a federal hate crime for a violent attack at a southeastern Michigan beach has been sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
The Justice Department announced the sentence on Thursday, saying Lee James Mouat, Jr., of Newport, Michigan, willfully caused bodily injury to a Black teenager because of the teen’s race.
Mouat, 43, pleaded guilty on March 4.
According to the plea agreement, Mouat confronted a group of Black teenagers, including the victim, at Sterling State Park in Monroe County's Frenchtown Township on June 6, 2020.
Mouat repeatedly used racial slurs and said that Black people had no right to use the public beach where the incident occurred. Mouat then struck one of the teens in the face with a bike lock, knocking out several of the victim’s teeth, lacerating his face and mouth, and fracturing his jaw. Mouat also attempted to hit another Black teenager with the bike lock, the feds said.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson of the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
“The defendant brutally attacked teenagers at a public beach because these young people are Black,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, in a media release. “Hate-fueled violent crimes like this have no place in our communities.”
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“Our office is committed to protecting the rights of all citizens, and prosecuting hate crimes is a top priority,” added Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin for the Eastern District of Michigan. “The cowardly and unprovoked attack on this young victim is terribly disturbing. Every individual citizen has the right to not live in fear of violence or attack based on the color of their skin.”
Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters of the FBI Detroit Field Office said combating hate crimes is one of the top priorities of the FBI.
“Mouat was held accountable for his violent and hateful actions due to the collaborative efforts of the FBI, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Justice. The outcome of this case sends a clear message to our community that law enforcement at every level will investigate crimes motivated by hate and bring the perpetrators to justice," Waters said.