Culver City Hate-Crime Beating Leads To Federal Felony Charge: DOJ

CULVER CITY, CA — A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted a man accused of committing a hate crime when he punched an Asian American woman in the head in Culver City while he shouted racial slurs at her, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Jesse Allen Lindsey, 37, who is in state prison on an unrelated conviction, was charged with one felony count of committing a hate crime. If convicted, he faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, according to prosecutors.

The charge stems from a June 14, 2021 incident, captured on surveillance video, when the victim was walking to work in Culver City at 1 a.m. Lindsey, who is white, asked the woman for a lighter or cigarette, prosecutors said.

After she told him she did not smoke, Lindsey began following her and yelling at the woman, whom he perceived as an Asian American man, prosecutors said.

“You [expletive] Asian guy, turn around," Lindsey yelled, according to prosecutors, who said he also called her "Korean."

“You [expletive] Asian guy, you don’t belong here,” Lindsey continued.

Lindsey punched the woman in the head, knocking her to the street, where she hit her head. While the woman was lying face down in the street, Lindsey shouted “You hear what I said, [N-word]? I said good morning, bitch," according to prosecutors.

The woman was transported to a local hospital, where she received some 11 stitches in her face. She sustained injuries to her head and ear, which left her unable to work for a month and caused her ongoing pain for a year, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

After seeing news reports that law enforcement were investigating the incident as a hate crime, Lindsey fled California out of fear that he would face tough prosecution, authorities said.

“The community we serve is rich in cultural diversity, and we are committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all,” Culver City Police Chief Jason Sims said. “Hate has no place in Culver City. I am extremely proud of the work done by the Culver City Police Department to identify and locate the suspect who is responsible for this violent hate crime. In partnership with the FBI, we are not only seeking justice for the innocent victim in this case, but also underscoring that this type of heinous crime will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.”

Lindsey is expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks.