A 43-year-old man was sentenced to 273 days in prison for a hate crime last year in Hillcrest, the San Diego City Attorney’s Office announced on Friday.
Cameron James, 43, pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to misdemeanor assault with one charge of hate crime and interfering with a business, according to the office of Mara W. Elliot.
On July 24, 2021, James walked up to Crest Café in Hillcrest, which was displaying Pride flags along with other LGBTQ+ symbols, and slurs an employee, according to the City Attorney’s Office.
During the rage, the 43-year-old man threw a tray of food at the employee, knocked over tables and chairs, hit the worker with a chair, drew a swastika on the cafe window and told the victim: “You’re going to die.” tonight,” according to city officials.
Police arrived at the cafe after the incident and found James on the ground near the restaurant, possibly intoxicated, according to the City Attorney’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Chief City Attorney Taylor Hearnsberger of the Special Prosecutions Unit, under the supervision of Assistant City Attorney Paige Folkman.
Anyone can report hate crimes to the San Diego Police Department by calling 619-531-2000.
–City news service
