(WWJ) A 42-year-old man has been charged with a hate crime for a violent attack on a Black teenager at a southeastern Michigan beach.
The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday announced the federal charge against Lee James Mouat, Jr. of Newport in Monroe County, for "willfully causing bodily injury to an African-American teenager because of the teenager’s race."
Authorities say, back in early June, Mouat and others confronted a group of African-American teens who were swimming at Sterling State Park; and -- using racial slurs -- told them they had no right to use the public beach.
An argument ensued and it's alleged that Mouat then hit the victim, identified as an 18-year-old Monroe man, in the face with a bike lock, knocking out several of the victim’s teeth and fracturing his jaw. The teen was hospitalized.
This case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson of the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the federal charge, Mouat faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He also faces an assault charge in Monroe County.