| For Immediate Release Case # 07WF2607 November 30, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 |
WHITE SUPREMACIST PAROLEE SENTENCED
FOR YELLING RACIAL SLURS WHILE
ATTACKING AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOUNCER
WESTMINSTER – A white supremacist parolee has pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime for attacking an African-American bouncer outside of a Huntington Beach bar. Raymond Walter Thomas, 35, Placentia, pleaded guilty yesterday to a hate crime for one felony count of battery and was sentenced to two years in state prison.
At approximately 8:15 p.m. on November 10, 2007, Thomas was at the Surf City Saloon in Huntington Beach on Beach Boulevard. After going outside with friends to smoke a cigarette, Thomas approached the bouncer, an African-American man, and yelled at him for not admitting him into the bar without paying a $5 cover charge. The defendant attempted to punch the victim in the face, but the bouncer was able to avoid the hit. Thomas’s friends came over to assist him and also attempted to punch the victim, but the bouncer backed up inside the bar to protect himself.
Thomas and his friends began to leave but shortly thereafter got into an unrelated fight with another person outside the bar. As the bouncer ran over to stop the fight he tripped and fell. Thomas has multiple white supremacist tattoos including “skinhead” written across his stomach and “WP” for “white power” on his chest. Thomas yelled to his friends that “the [racial slur] is down. Get him!” Thomas began kicking the victim and yelling “white power” while the bouncer was on the ground. The defendant and his friends then fled the scene.
Deputy District Attorney Scott Steiner of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.
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