S&G: Suspect Faces Hate Crime

A man accused of trying to rob a Spokane taco truck owner may have targeted the victim because of his race, new court documents allege. Michael A. Brewer, 22, has been charged under Washington’s hate-crime law after police say he yelled racial slurs while trying to rob Jonas J. Perez-Lopez at knifepoint last week. Brewer is to be arraigned on charges of attempted first-degree robbery and malicious harassment April 13 in Spokane County Superior Court. He’s being held at Geiger Corrections Center on $7,500 bail after appearing in court this week/ Meghann M. Cuniff , Sirens & Gavels. More here .

Question: Should an individual accused of a crime like the one above be charged w/a hate crime simply because racial epithets were yelled in commission of the crime?