Crime & Safety
Man Who Claimed To Be Hindu God Convicted Of Bias Crime
Sean Lawrence Michel-White was convicted of harassment, assault, and a bias crime stemming from an attack last August at the ISKCON Temple.
HILLSBORO, OR — Sean Lawrence Michel-White will spend 7 months in jail and 3 years on probation after being convicted of a bias crime last August. A judge found Michel-White guilty of two counts of first-degree bias crime, second-degree bias crime, two counts of fourth-degree assault, and harassment.
The charges stem from an incident last August.
Court papers state that Michel-White had arrived at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Hillsboro where he was greeted warmly. Things quickly took a turn when they asked him to put on a mask.
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Prosecutors said that Michel-White refused and became belligerent. He stormed into the temple, tried knocking over statues, assaulted temple-goers, biting them and hitting them.
Members of the temple were able to bring Michel-White under control and hold him until Hillsboro police arrived.
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Police said that Michel-White told officers that he was a Hindu god and was upset with people because thy were worshiping the wrong god and practicing their faith incorrectly.
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