CINCINNATI, Ohio — An Ohio man who attacked an Asian-American college student could be sentenced to nearly two years in prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal hate crime.
Darrin Johnson, 27, of Cincinnati, already has served nearly a year in jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault and criminal intimidation for the attack on the campus of the University of Cincinnati on Aug. 17, 2021. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2022.
“I remain steadfast in the belief that hate has no place in our society,” U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker said in a statement. “We will continue to use our federal law-enforcement authority to investigate and prosecute hate crimes like the one committed by Johnson.”
Federal prosecutors say Johnson yelled at the student to “Go back to your country. … You brought the kung flu here. … You’re going to die for bringing it.” Kung flu is a derogatory reference to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Johnson threatened to kill the student, prosecutors say, then punched him in the head. The punch caused the victim to fall and his head on the bumper of the car. Johnson continued to assault the man until two witnesses stopped the attack. One held Johnson down until police arrived, prosecutors say.
The victim suffered multiple injuries, including an orbital contusion, facial lacerations and an acute head injury.
Authorities are recommending a sentence of up to 22 months in prison for the federal charge.
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