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White bicyclist who called black motorist n-word before assaulting him sentenced to three years
Public Safety
White bicyclist who called black motorist n-word before violently assaulting him is sentenced to three years in prison
Maxim Smith leaves court Jan. 3 in Washington. Smith, 25, was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison after beating a black motorist with a bicycle lock. He also called the motorist the n-word. (Keith L. Alexander/The Washington Post)
By Keith L. Alexander
August 27 at 3:51 PM
A white bicyclist who attacked a black motorist in Georgetown last year following a dispute with the driver was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison. ... Maxim Smith, 25, was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and felony assault while armed for beating the driver in his head and hands with what prosecutors said was a metal bicycle U-lock. Prosecutors had argued the assault was a hate crime because Smith had repeatedly called the driver the n-word, but the D.C. Superior Court jury that heard the case was unable to reach a unanimous verdict about whether the attack was fueled by racial bias.
Still, at Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors asked Judge Kimberley Knowles to sentence Smith to a tougher punishment — four years in prison — allowed under a hate crime enhancement. ... “This crime was motivated by hate and bias and should have no place in the District of Columbia or anywhere in this country for that matter,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Korba said.
....
Their confrontation unfolded in the overnight hours last August as Smith slowly biked in the center lane of the 3100 block of M Street NW ahead of a frustrated Paho, 35, who began honking his horn. ... As Paho passed Smith, police said, Smith reached out and hit his car trunk. Paho said he stopped his car, began to call 911 and grabbed Smith’s bike to detain him as Smith tried to pedal away. ... It was then, prosecutors said, that Smith repeatedly used the racial slur and hit Paho in the head. Paho received 21 stitches.
....
In October, Smith has another trial in connection to a misdemeanor destruction of property case involving a black Lyft driver late last year. Smith was charged with damaging the window of the Lyft driver’s car while swerving his bicycle erratically, striking the car’s window. He also allegedly called the driver the n-word.
Keith L. Alexander covers crime and courts, specifically D.C. Superior Court cases, for The Washington Post. Alexander was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that investigated fatal police shootings across the nation in 2015. He joined The Post in 2001. He previously worked as a reporter for USA Today, BusinessWeek and The Dayton Daily News. Follow https://twitter.com/keithlalexander
White bicyclist who called black motorist n-word before violently assaulting him is sentenced to three years in prison
Maxim Smith leaves court Jan. 3 in Washington. Smith, 25, was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison after beating a black motorist with a bicycle lock. He also called the motorist the n-word. (Keith L. Alexander/The Washington Post)
By Keith L. Alexander
August 27 at 3:51 PM
A white bicyclist who attacked a black motorist in Georgetown last year following a dispute with the driver was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison. ... Maxim Smith, 25, was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and felony assault while armed for beating the driver in his head and hands with what prosecutors said was a metal bicycle U-lock. Prosecutors had argued the assault was a hate crime because Smith had repeatedly called the driver the n-word, but the D.C. Superior Court jury that heard the case was unable to reach a unanimous verdict about whether the attack was fueled by racial bias.
Still, at Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors asked Judge Kimberley Knowles to sentence Smith to a tougher punishment — four years in prison — allowed under a hate crime enhancement. ... “This crime was motivated by hate and bias and should have no place in the District of Columbia or anywhere in this country for that matter,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Korba said.
....
Their confrontation unfolded in the overnight hours last August as Smith slowly biked in the center lane of the 3100 block of M Street NW ahead of a frustrated Paho, 35, who began honking his horn. ... As Paho passed Smith, police said, Smith reached out and hit his car trunk. Paho said he stopped his car, began to call 911 and grabbed Smith’s bike to detain him as Smith tried to pedal away. ... It was then, prosecutors said, that Smith repeatedly used the racial slur and hit Paho in the head. Paho received 21 stitches.
....
In October, Smith has another trial in connection to a misdemeanor destruction of property case involving a black Lyft driver late last year. Smith was charged with damaging the window of the Lyft driver’s car while swerving his bicycle erratically, striking the car’s window. He also allegedly called the driver the n-word.
Keith L. Alexander covers crime and courts, specifically D.C. Superior Court cases, for The Washington Post. Alexander was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that investigated fatal police shootings across the nation in 2015. He joined The Post in 2001. He previously worked as a reporter for USA Today, BusinessWeek and The Dayton Daily News. Follow https://twitter.com/keithlalexander
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