Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for 2021 Attack on Asian American Student

The guilty plea acknowledges the racially motivated assault amid a rise in anti-Asian incidents during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Darrin Johnson, 27, admitted to assaulting an Asian American student in 2021, blaming him for Covid-19 based on the victim's race.
The attack occurred at the University of Cincinnati, with Johnson potentially facing nearly two years in prison.
Johnson's guilty plea comes after a federal grand jury indicted him in October 2022, with sentencing scheduled for May 16.
The victim suffered multiple injuries, including an orbital contusion, facial lacerations, and an acute head injury.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker emphasized that hate has no place in society, pledging continued prosecution of hate crimes.