Oregon Man Sentenced for Attack on Sikh Shopkeeper

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon man was sentenced to three years of probation for attacking a Sikh shopkeeper in Salem, in addition to being required to learn about the Sikh religion and making a report.

The Sikh Coalition, which has represented hate crime victims throughout the United States, said Andrew Ramsey was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to intimidation in the second degree and assault in the fourth degree in the January 14 assault of Harwinder Singh Dodd. Intimidation in the second degree is a misdemeanor hate crime.

A witness, former combat Marine Justin Brecht, had said Ramsey pulled on the clerk’s beard after he refused to sell him rolling papers without an ID, punched him in the face, pulled him to the ground and kicked him. Brecht and others restrained Ramsey until police arrived.