Trial Begins for Brothers Charged With Hate Crimes

Two brothers went on trial in federal court Tuesday on charges of conspiring to drive an interracial family out of their predominantly white neighborhood in Glendale.

In his opening statements to a racially mixed jury, Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael Gennaco charged that Philip Alexander, 22, and his brother, Steven, 20, cruised through the streets of the La Crescenta district last year, shouting racial epithets, flashing “white power” signs and threatening minorities they encountered.

The government’s case revolves around two stormy confrontations between the Alexander brothers and members of a biracial family living in their neighborhood.

The brothers are charged with violating the civil rights of Susan Shumate, who is white, as well as her sons, Andre, 21, and Demoad, 18, and her boyfriend, Mark Slider, all of whom are black.

Lawyers for the brothers acknowledged in their opening statements that the confrontations occurred, but denied that race was an issue.

Defense attorneys Edward Robinson and Kenly Kiya Kato said their clients were hotheads, but that so too was Demoad Shumate, whom they blamed for starting the confrontation.

According to the government, however, the Alexanders accosted the Shumates and Slider without provocation.

The first episode allegedly occurred May 5, 1998, when Shumate and her sons were walking home from Crescenta Valley Park.

Susan Shumate and son Andre testified Tuesday that the Alexander brothers and a third youth flashed white power hand signs as they drove by, then jumped out of their car and began shouting, “You’re in our neighborhood, get out! . . . Your kind doesn’t belong here!” punctuated by abusive racial slurs.

Susan Shumate said both brothers had used racial epithets, but under cross-examination, Andre Shumate said only Steven Alexander used them.

The Shumates also acknowledged having described Demoad as hotheaded when they testified earlier this year before a federal grand jury. But in this instance, they said, he was not the instigator.

Susan Shumate said the Alexander brothers finally drove off, but not before Steven Alexander threatened to kill one of her sons if she called the police.

Under questioning by Gennaco, she said she decided against calling the police. “I was nervous about possible repercussions,” she said. “I didn’t want to blow it up.”

About a month later, however, Shumate and Slider were driving home from the supermarket when she saw Philip Alexander a few blocks from their home. Slider testified that he stopped his car and confronted the young man. After a few minutes, Steven Alexander and a few other young men arrived and Slider, fearing for his safety, retreated to his car.

Slider said he tried to get away, but Steven Alexander stood in front of the car, then leaped on the hood and smashed the front windshield. As Slider put the car in gear, Steven tumbled off the car, breaking his arm, while Philip reached through the open driver’s window and ripped Slider’s jacket.

When they got home, Shumate and Slider called 911 to report the incident, only to learn that Steven Alexander had already telephoned police to accuse Slider of being a hit-and-run driver. After sorting out the conflicting claims, Glendale police arrested the Alexanders. The case was referred to federal authorities for prosecution.

The Alexanders, who are being held without bond, are each accused of conspiring to deprive the Shumates and Slider of their civil rights, a felony, and of trying to force them out of the neighborhood, a misdemeanor. If convicted, they could be sentenced to as much as 12 years in prison.