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crime5h ago
Columbia man to plead guilty to hate crime after firing gun at Black neighbor
Southcarolinapublicradio.org and 1 more
- A 34-year-old Columbia man has agreed to plead guilty to a federal hate-crime charge for firing a gun at his Black neighbor and threatening him, aligning with the new reference on the case.
- The incident occurred in a gated Richland County community where Felkel and his Black neighbor Jarvis McKenzie lived, during which he shouted threats like threatening him to run.
- Felkel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
- Felkel initially entered a not-guilty plea, with a change of plea to come later in federal court, though a date had not yet been decided.
- South Carolina lacks a statewide hate-crime law, pushing municipalities to regulate local ordinances, such as Richland County's, independently.
- Attorney General Alan Wilson questioned the legality of locally created hate-crime ordinances but emphasized that only a court may determine their legality.
- During a December press conference, McKenzie’s lawyer urged greater state involvement in addressing hate crimes.
- Felkel’s case marked the first use of Richland County's hate-crime ordinance in a prosecutorial context.
- The federal charge targets the use of force or threatened force to injure, intimidate, or interfere with housing rights based on race.
- WIS reporters note additional coverage and discussion on the case, including calls for statewide hate-crime legislation and awareness.
- The broader context highlights racial intimidation in housing contexts and the legal debates surrounding remedies under local and federal frameworks.
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