Man Convicted of Race-Based Beating in Park
A Cathedral City man has been found guilty of violating the civil rights of a Mexican national in a 1995 race-motivated beating in a park.
After a two-day trial without a jury, U.S. District Judge James Ideman found Robert A. Makowski, 31, guilty Wednesday of interfering with the federally protected activities of Felix Milward.
The incident began when Makowski’s son almost hit Milward with his bicycle while Milward was jogging in a park. After Milward complained to the boy, the youth got his father. Makowski shouted obscenities and racial slurs at Milward and punched him, according to Richard Drooyan, chief of the U.S. attorney’s criminal division.
“Racially motivated assaults are a clear violation of federal civil rights laws,” said U.S. Atty. Nora Manella. “As the primary enforcer of those laws, this office has both a responsibility and a commitment to ensure that those who violate civil rights laws are promptly brought to justice.”
Makowski could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on July 15. But his sentence is likely to be lower under federal guidelines.
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