Southern California native Jesse Allen Lindsey is charged with a hate crime for attacking an Asian-American woman and using racist slurs

On May 29, a federal grand jury indicted a Southern California man on hate crime charges for punching an Asian-American woman in the head while yelling racist epithets at her in Culver City.

Jesse Allen Lindsey, 37, who is in state prison for a different conviction but whose last known address was in Fontana, was charged with committing a hate crime, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

“Hate-fueled violence has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “We live in one of the most diverse communities in the country, and that diversity makes us strong. Our community will continue to stand united in condemning intolerance, and my office will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute those who harm others based on bigotry.”

“The victim in this case was simply minding her own business when she was verbally abused and violently attacked solely because of her appearance,” said Krysti Hawkins, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office. “The FBI is committed to protecting civil rights in the United States and will hold accountable anyone who is so driven by hate that they target innocent people based on their race.”

According to the indictment, the victim was walking to work in Culver City around 1 a.m. on June 14, 2021, when Lindsey, a white male, asked the victim for a lighter or cigarette. She responded that she did not smoke.

Lindsey then allegedly followed her and yelled at the victim, who he thought was an Asian-American man: “You (expletive) Asian guy, turn around.” Lindsey allegedly called the victim a “Korean” and yelled: “You (expletive) Asian guy, you don’t belong here,” the indictment states.

The indictment further states that Lindsey yelled at the victim, as seen on surveillance video, “You can’t say hello to a (expletive) white boy?” Lindsey then punched the victim in the head, causing him to fall to the street and hit his head. While the victim was lying face down on the street, Lindsey yelled, “You hear what I said, (N-word)? I said good morning, bitch!”

Emergency responders later took the victim to a hospital, where he received approximately 11 stab wounds to his face. As a result of the attack, the victim suffered injuries to his head and ear that left him unable to work for a month and caused ongoing pain for a year, the indictment states.

When Lindsey later learned from news reports that police were investigating the incident as a hate crime, he fled California because he feared hate crimes would be punished more harshly, the indictment says.

“The community we serve is rich in cultural diversity, and we are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all,” said Culver City Police Chief Jason Sims. “Hate has no place in Culver City. I am extremely proud of the work of the Culver City Police Department in identifying and locating the suspect responsible for this violent hate crime. Working with the FBI, we are not only seeking justice for the innocent victim in this case, but also underscoring that these types of heinous crimes will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.”

An accusation is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Lindsey is currently in state custody and is expected to appear in federal court in the next few weeks.

The FBI is investigating this case and is receiving significant assistance from the Culver City Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Greer Dotson of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section is prosecuting the case.