An East Palo Alto man charged with hate crimes and robberies for assaults allegedly concentrating on South Asian girls will face an arraignment listening to Tuesday, based on Santa Clara County District Legal professional’s workplace.
Starting in June, Lathan Johnson, 37, allegedly focused not less than 14 South Asian girls throughout 4 cities in Santa Clara County, stealing about $35,000 price of necklaces, prosecutors mentioned in a information launch. Authorities mentioned a number of girls have been injured within the assaults; all the victims have been between the ages of fifty and 73.
Virtually all the girls attacked have been carrying conventional South Asian apparel or jewellery. Sean Webby, a spokesperson for the District Legal professional’s Workplace, mentioned a few of the proof for hate crime expenses can be shared at Tuesday’s arraignment listening to.
Johnson was accused of forcibly eliminated necklaces off the necks of the ladies. In a single such occasion, he allegedly pushed a girl to the bottom earlier than punching her husband within the face, ripping off her necklace and leaping inside a getaway automobile. The girl suffered a damaged wrist.
If convicted, Johnson might face jail time, the DA’s workplace mentioned.
“I say to our South Asian group that anybody who targets and assaults you may be arrested and handled with the utmost severity beneath our legislation,” District Legal professional Jeff Rosen mentioned in a public assertion. “Santa Clara County’s valuable range is our power, our superpower – not a felony alternative.”