San Diego

The first two black men in the county to be charged with violating the civil rights of white people were ordered Tuesday to stand trial in Superior Court on felony charges of robbery and assault as well as misdemeanor civil rights offenses.

Richard Maxey, 25, and Donnie Lee Alexander, 19, both of San Diego, were ordered to stand trial by Municipal Judge Joan P. Weber after a one-day preliminary hearing at which several beating victims testified. The pair are being held in lieu of $10,000 bail pending a Nov. 6 arraignment.

Maxey and Alexander now face felony charges of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in separate incidents involving two women near Belmont Park in Mission Beach on Sept. 23. They also face four counts of misdemeanor battery and four misdemeanor counts of violating the civil rights of individuals.

Although testimony indicated that other black men were involved in the attacks, only Maxey and Alexander have been charged.

Among those testifying Tuesday was Joseph William Righetti, who said he was taking pictures at the beach. Righetti testified that the attack was accompanied by racial comments such as “white trash,” “white garbage,” a crude sexual comment aimed at his female companion, and a threat on his life.

Righetti testified that Maxie also pulled a 3-inch knife.

Attorney Alex Landon, who is representing Maxey, said: “Sometimes people make these unfortunate (racial) remarks, but this is not a crime.”