Conrad Alvin Barrett, 27, a white man from Houston, was arrested Thursday, December 26, on federal hate crime charges after allegedly shooting a video of him sucker punching a 79-year-old black man, according to MSN News.
During an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy, on Friday, December 27, prosecutors said the video recording and the attacked itself took place on November 24 in Katy. Barrett allegedly approached the victim and sucker punched the old man in a 'knockout game"-style attack.
According to the report, Barrett allegedly showed the video of the attack to an off-duty arson investigator while at a restaurant in Folshear, which is near Katy. The complaints said that Barrett bragged about the recording and asked the officer and the woman he's with if both has heard of the knockout game. Barrett allegedly told the two that he played the game earlier that day and showed a cellphone video.
After seeing the video, the off-duty investigator informed a police officer right across the street. However, the video recording doesn't show Barrett's face, but the investigating officer was able to match Barrett's voice in the video. Also the couple to whom Barrett showed the video identified the similarity in clothing of Barrett and the person in the video.
The prosecutors showed the video in which Barrett approached the victim and asked, "How's it going?" before punching the 79-year-old man. The report said a loud smack was heard and then the victim fell to the ground. Barrett then laughed and said, "Knockout" and then flees the crime scene.
According to authorities, the 79-year-old victim was hospitalized for four days. He lost three teeth and underwent surgery to repair a broken jaw that was split in two places.
"Evidence of hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted with the assistance of all our partners to the fullest extent of the law," Kenneth Magidson, the U.S. attorney who is prosecuting the case, told MSN News that hate crimes will not be tolerated.
However, Barrett's lawyer, said that his client is suffering from a bipolar disorder and has been taking prescribed heavy medications to treat his condition.
"When you start peeling back the layers of the onion and look at the mindset behind the action you soon realize there's a mental issue," Parnham told MSN News.
Barrett could serve up to 10 years and will be required to pay a fine of $250,000 if found guilty of hate crime charge.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
