Southern California man sentenced to one year in prison for driving through ‘Stop Asian Hate’ rally

LOS ANGELES (CN) — A federal judge sentenced a Southern California man on Monday to one year in prison following his guilty plea to disrupting a "Stop Asian Hate" rally by driving his car through a red light and a crosswalk with peaceful demonstrators while shouting racial slurs.

U.S. District Otis Wright II sent Steve Dominguez, 58, to prison even though prosecutors — satisfied that he shown remorse and taken steps to better himself — and his defense recommended probation.

In a letter to the judge, Dominguez said he was embarrassed, ashamed and humiliated by his actions in 2021.

"I am still in disbelief I did that and said all those repulsive words," he wrote. "My face, my attitude was appalling. I am sorry, please accept my apologies."

Dominguez had initially gone on trial in 2023, but pled guilty to one count of bias-motivated interference with federally protected activities on the third day.

"Although defendant committed a serious offense that instilled fear in an already marginalized community, mitigating factors justify a non-custodial sentence in this case," prosecutors with the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles said.

They noted that although Dominguez had acted to intimidate the victims, he did not physically harm them. They also credited him with accepting responsibility and showing contrition, as well as with having taken steps to improve his mental health, become sober and manage his anger.

The rally took place three years ago in Diamond Bar, a city east of downtown Los Angeles with a majority Asian population. Rally participants sought to raise awareness about the increase in hate crimes and incidents against members of the Asian American Pacific Islander community both locally and nationally, including the murders of six Asian American women five days earlier in Atlanta during a rise in anti-Asian sentiment amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dominguez was stopped at a red light at an intersection as the demonstrators were crossing the street. While yelling “Go back to China!” and other racial slurs, he drove his car through the red light and the crosswalk, made an illegal U-turn into oncoming traffic, and cut off the route of several women and a young child participating in the rally.

No participants were injured by his actions.

Dominguez next got out of his car and called the police. Identifying himself only as “John Doe,” he falsely reported that the rally participants were blocking the street and that he had to run a red light “because they were about to trample my car.” He also requested that police “get some control out” at the intersection.

“This defendant’s hateful attack was designed to curtail the rights of peaceful demonstrators,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “While differences of opinion are part of a healthy democracy, we cannot allow people to commit acts of violence against those with whom they disagree. My office will continue to safeguard civil rights for all members of our community.”

A federal public defender representing Dominguez didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the prison sentence.

Follow @edpettersson

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