| For Immediate Release Case # 11HF0807 March 28, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 |
CAUCASIAN MAN CHARGED WITH UNPROVOKED HATE CRIME ATTACK OF TWO HISPANIC MEN
SANTA ANA – A Caucasian man has been charged with a hate crime for attacking two Hispanic men without provocation outside of a 7-Eleven. Chad Martin Jurjaks, 30, Costa Mesa, is charged with two felony counts of hate crime battery causing injury. He faces a sentencing enhancement for a prior strike conviction for criminal threats in 2006. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years and four months in state prison. The People will be requesting $100,000 bail at Jurjaks’ arraignment today, March 28, 2011, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on March 5, 2011, 42-year-old John Doe, his wife, cousin, and 26-year-old nephew John Doe #2, were walking to the doors of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Costa Mesa. The victims are Hispanic. Jurjaks, who is Caucasian, is accused of being intoxicated and confronting the victims as they approached. Jurjaks is accused of attacking the victims without provocation and yelling “F****** Mexicans!” as he punched John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 one time each in the head.
Jurjaks is accused of then walking away and the victims called 911. Costa Mesa Police officers arrived at the scene and arrested the defendant near the convenience store.
Hate crime laws prohibit the use or threat of force by any individual in order to intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten any other person from exercising any right secured by the U.S. Constitution or State or Federal laws based on “race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.”
Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
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