Mission Beach

Two black men who pleaded no contest to charges of violating whites’ civil rights in a series of attacks last summer in Mission Beach were sentenced Thursday to three years probation.

In the county’s first case in which black defendants were convicted of violating the civil rights of whites, Richard Maxey and Donnie Lee Alexander both pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery count and a civil rights charge that elevated the crime to a felony.

Maxey, 25, and Alexander, 19, both of San Diego, were sentenced by Superior Court Judge William D. Mudd for their roles in a Sept. 23 altercation at Belmont Park in Mission Beach. During a preliminary hearing last year, victims testified that words such as “white trash” were used during the attack.

Both men were originally charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of robbery.

Maxey was also sentenced to 94 days in custody, but was given credit for time already served. Mudd ordered him to perform 120 hours of volunteer work.

Alexander was also sentenced to 48 days in custody, but he too was given credit for time served. Alexander was also ordered to serve 60 days of public service.