HOUSTON – A white Houston-area man has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime for the surprise punching of an elderly black man.
In federal court in Houston on Tuesday, Conrad Alvin Barrett admitted to racial motivation in the Nov. 24, 2013, attack on his 81-year-old victim.
Barrett used his cellphone to record the attack. The 29-year-old Katy, Texas, man also recorded himself questioning whether his attack on a black person would draw national attention.
After knocking the man to the ground, Barrett laughed, called out, "Knockout!" and ran to his vehicle.
The victim was hospitalized for several days for treatment of two jaw fractures.
Barrett could receive up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when he's sentenced Sept. 18.
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