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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
April 9 , 2009
KKANSAS MAN SENTENCED IN HATE CRIME
TOPEKA, KAN. – David B. Endsley, 20, Waterville, Kan., has been sentenced to six months in federal custody for taking part in a high school graduation party that turned into a drunken incident in which a black student was tied and taunted with racial epithets, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker said today.
The court recommends to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons that Endsley serve the sentence in a halfway house. The sentence also includes two years supervised release, 100 hours of community service at a racially diverse non-profit institution and 20 hours of cultural diversity educational training.
In July 2008, Endsley pleaded guilty to one count of criminal interference with the right to fair housing and one count of making a false statement to federal agents who investigated the incident. In his plea, Endsley admitted that by his actions and words he sought to drive J.L., an African-American juvenile, from the community of Waterville and Blue Rapids, Kan., because of the victim’s race.
According to the plea agreement, on May 19, 2007, Endsley and his parents hosted a large high school graduation party at their residence in Waterville, Kan., which is part of the Waterville/Blue Rapids community. Most of the people at the party, including the defendants and the victim, consumed alcohol.
About 2 a.m., Endsley found J.L. asleep on the ground and put him in a lawn chair. Endsley said that he was going to “tie the nigger up.” While the victim was tied, Endsley and others directed racial slurs at him and urinated on him. They used a can of spray paint to paint the victim’s arms and legs white. They told the victim he should “go back home” and go back where he came from before he moved to the Waterville and Blue Rapids area.
On Aug. 13, 2007, an FBI agent interviewed Endsley about the incident. Endsley falsely denied witnessing or participating in the incident.
Also charged in the incident were:
Isaac Q. Clark, 20, Blue Rapids, Kan., who was sentenced to 2 years probation after pleading guilty to one count of criminal interference with the right to fair housing.
Andrew S. Ralph, 22, Concordia, Kan., who was sentenced to 2 months in federal custody and 2 years on supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal investigator.
Parker commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Marshall County Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Kathleen Monaghan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot for their work on the case.
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