Man charged again with hate crime in Huntington Beach

A 42-year-old man convicted of a hate crime earlier this year was charged today with another hate crime.

On Feb. 19, Tremaine Jatari Sowell, a Black man, brandished a stun gun at a 54-year-old white man while making comments about the victim’s race, police said after arresting him in Huntington Beach. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of violating the man’s civil rights and was sentenced to 68 days in jail, or time already served.

On Wednesday, Sowell was again arrested in Huntington Beach for an alleged hate crime, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Shawn Randell said. Sowell is accused of a “random” attack just before 5:50 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Huntington Beach on a woman based on her sexual orientation, Randell said. He was also accused of threatening others with a knife.

On Friday, Sowell was charged with violation of civil rights with a violent injury, a felony, as well as single misdemeanor counts each of violation of civil rights and brandishing a weapon.

Sowell has a prior conviction for burglary in September 2010 and possession of drugs for sale in March 2013.

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