Man pleads guilty to hate crime
NORWICH – A man will spend weekends in jail after pleading guilty to a hate crime in Chenango County Court, on Friday.
Jacob Fowlston, 33, was originally arrested and charged with third-degree assault as a hate crime, a class E felony; and a second count of misdemeanor, third-degree assault, as a non-hate crime; and fourth-degree criminal mischief, after an attack on Norwich resident on Fair Street in Norwich, who is an African-American.
The Chenango County District Attorney's Office said, Fowlston attacked the victim on December 24 of last year, while yelling racial slurs and repeatedly striking him in the head which resulted in a concussion and bruising.
With the victim sitting behind prosecution, Fowlston pleaded guilty to third-degree assault as a hate crime in a plea agreement. Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. sentenced Fowlston to a split sentence of four months of weekends in jail, and five years of probation. Fowlston will also pay restitution in the amount of $1850.00.
Though prosecution agreed to the plea agreement, District Attorney Joseph McBride said he respectfully disagreed with the sentencing. "I thought the facts and circumstances of the case, including things said by the defendant, and his violent actions against the victim, merited a much more severe sentence. My request was state prison," said the DA.
"I'm respectfully disappointed on behalf of the victim, whose life has changed forever." McBride said the victim "is afraid to walk the streets of Chenango County at nighttime." McBride said the only good thing for the victim is this matter is behind him.
"I hope that because of this terrible incident that he had with Mr. Fowlston, he won't lose faith in the great community we have here in Chenango County."
Fowlston did not make a statement in court. Michael Trosset, Fowlston's public defender, said of Fowlston after the hearing, "He showed remorse for the day in question, he showed remorse the very next day, he took responsibility for it, he is going to pay a penalty as such, he's a good guy that had a bad day."
Jacob Fowlston, 33, was originally arrested and charged with third-degree assault as a hate crime, a class E felony; and a second count of misdemeanor, third-degree assault, as a non-hate crime; and fourth-degree criminal mischief, after an attack on Norwich resident on Fair Street in Norwich, who is an African-American.
The Chenango County District Attorney's Office said, Fowlston attacked the victim on December 24 of last year, while yelling racial slurs and repeatedly striking him in the head which resulted in a concussion and bruising.
With the victim sitting behind prosecution, Fowlston pleaded guilty to third-degree assault as a hate crime in a plea agreement. Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. sentenced Fowlston to a split sentence of four months of weekends in jail, and five years of probation. Fowlston will also pay restitution in the amount of $1850.00.
Though prosecution agreed to the plea agreement, District Attorney Joseph McBride said he respectfully disagreed with the sentencing. "I thought the facts and circumstances of the case, including things said by the defendant, and his violent actions against the victim, merited a much more severe sentence. My request was state prison," said the DA.
"I'm respectfully disappointed on behalf of the victim, whose life has changed forever." McBride said the victim "is afraid to walk the streets of Chenango County at nighttime." McBride said the only good thing for the victim is this matter is behind him.
"I hope that because of this terrible incident that he had with Mr. Fowlston, he won't lose faith in the great community we have here in Chenango County."
Fowlston did not make a statement in court. Michael Trosset, Fowlston's public defender, said of Fowlston after the hearing, "He showed remorse for the day in question, he showed remorse the very next day, he took responsibility for it, he is going to pay a penalty as such, he's a good guy that had a bad day."
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