12-30-2013, 10:05 AM
Violent, Hateful, Dangerous & Stupid
A Houston-area man has been charged with federal hate crimes after allegedly punching a 79-year-old black man in a “knockout game” attack.
![[Image: article-0-1A4C692700000578-356_306x423.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/27/article-0-1A4C692700000578-356_306x423.jpg)
Conrad Barrett, 27 ^ - Elder-abusing asshole charged with hate crime assault
![[Image: article-0-1A4F653500000578-323_634x473.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/27/article-0-1A4F653500000578-323_634x473.jpg)
Barrett's victim ^, 79
The victim, who is not being named in the media, lost three teeth and needed surgery to repair his jaw, which had been broken in two places. He was hospitalized for more than four days.
According to prosecutors, the video shows Barrett approach the victim and ask, “How’s it going, man?” A “loud smack” is then heard, the victim falls to the ground, Barrett laughs and says, “Knockout.” The assailant then flees in his vehicle.
Barrett allegedly filmed the Nov. 24 attack on his cell phone.
Authorities learned of the case because Barrett, of Katy, Texas, allegedly showed the video on the night of the attack to an off-duty arson investigator he had just met at a restaurant in nearby Folshear.
According to a criminal complaint, Barrett asked the off-duty investigator and the woman with the investigator if they knew about the knockout game. He told them he played earlier that day, then showed them the video, prosecutors allege.
The investigator flagged down a uniformed officer across the street and led him to Barrett.
The criminal complaint alleges Barrett attacked the elderly man because of the man’s race, violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Investigators retrieved other videos from Barrett’s phone, including some in which he uses racial epithets and talks about trying to work up the courage to play the knockout game, the complaint states. In one, Barrett says: “That plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?”
Barrett’s attorney, George Parnham, said Barrett has bipolar disorder and has been prescribed heavy medications to treat it. He said Barrett’s family “feels horribly sympathetic” for the person who was attacked.
If convicted of the hate crime charge, Barrett could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.
Refs:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-man-ch...ut-attack/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ttack.html
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Even if Barrett has bipolar disorder, I don't think it's gonna help save his ass on this one. Bipolar doesn't make people bigots, nor does it explain planning a violent attack against a defenseless stranger and taping it.
I hope Barrett gets the max.
A Houston-area man has been charged with federal hate crimes after allegedly punching a 79-year-old black man in a “knockout game” attack.
Conrad Barrett, 27 ^ - Elder-abusing asshole charged with hate crime assault
Barrett's victim ^, 79
The victim, who is not being named in the media, lost three teeth and needed surgery to repair his jaw, which had been broken in two places. He was hospitalized for more than four days.
According to prosecutors, the video shows Barrett approach the victim and ask, “How’s it going, man?” A “loud smack” is then heard, the victim falls to the ground, Barrett laughs and says, “Knockout.” The assailant then flees in his vehicle.
Barrett allegedly filmed the Nov. 24 attack on his cell phone.
Authorities learned of the case because Barrett, of Katy, Texas, allegedly showed the video on the night of the attack to an off-duty arson investigator he had just met at a restaurant in nearby Folshear.
According to a criminal complaint, Barrett asked the off-duty investigator and the woman with the investigator if they knew about the knockout game. He told them he played earlier that day, then showed them the video, prosecutors allege.
The investigator flagged down a uniformed officer across the street and led him to Barrett.
The criminal complaint alleges Barrett attacked the elderly man because of the man’s race, violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Investigators retrieved other videos from Barrett’s phone, including some in which he uses racial epithets and talks about trying to work up the courage to play the knockout game, the complaint states. In one, Barrett says: “That plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?”
Barrett’s attorney, George Parnham, said Barrett has bipolar disorder and has been prescribed heavy medications to treat it. He said Barrett’s family “feels horribly sympathetic” for the person who was attacked.
If convicted of the hate crime charge, Barrett could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.
Refs:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-man-ch...ut-attack/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ttack.html
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Even if Barrett has bipolar disorder, I don't think it's gonna help save his ass on this one. Bipolar doesn't make people bigots, nor does it explain planning a violent attack against a defenseless stranger and taping it.
I hope Barrett gets the max.