Michigan man accused of beating Black teen with a bike lock indicted on hate crime charges
Updated Feb 11, 2021;
MONROE COUNTY, MI – A man accused of attacking two Black teens at a state park, fracturing one teen’s skull with a bike lock, has been indicted on federal hate crime charges.
Lee James Mouat Jr., 42, of Newport, was indicted Thursday, Feb. 11, on two counts violating the federal Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it illegal to injure, or attempt to injure, someone because of their actual or perceived race, color, religion or national origin.
The victim and two other African American teenagers were in the parking lot of Sterling State Park in Monroe County June 6 when Mouat used a racial slur when telling them they didn’t belong on the beach. according to the criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.