Man who punched Asian-American SDPD officer and said he should be killed is guilty of hate crime – NBC 7 San Diego

A San Diego man who punched an Asian American police officer and shouted racial slurs at him pleaded guilty Wednesday to assault on a peace officer and a hate crime.

John Richards, 68, pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to one count of assault on a police officer and admitted to committing a hate crime.

John Richards, 68, was immediately sentenced to one year of probation and 141 days in prison, of which he must spend 60 days in an inpatient treatment program, according to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office.

While being taken to a hospital on August 26, 2022, Richards “began to hurl racial slurs at an Asian American police officer and yell that the officer should have been killed,” prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, Richards then punched the officer and attempted to kick him. The incident was highlighted as an example of a then-rising trend of hate crimes against Asian Americans.

“Our country has seen unacceptable levels of hate crimes against Asians, which is why we are committed to responding vigorously to every incident on the ground,” San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott said in a statement. “This police officer was just doing his job when he was attacked because of his Asian heritage. We all have a duty to confront racist hate when we see it.”