A man has been convicted of a federal hate crime for a brutal assault in a California bar. Eric Clawson, 28, of San Francisco, was found guilty of using a racially-derogatory term and punching an African-American man in the face at Riley’s Bar & Grill in Chico.
The assault, which occurred on July 6, 2008, left the victim unconscious and inflicted injuries to his face and mouth.
Clawson’s associate, Joe Grivette, pleaded guilty to a related charge of misprision of a felony on March 15, 2010.
According to officials, bias-motivated acts of violence have no place in the United States.
The Justice Department is committed to vigorously prosecuting federal laws prohibiting violent acts motivated by hate.
Clawson faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 10, 2010.
The case was investigated by the Sacramento Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division jointly prosecuted the case.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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