Man sentenced for home burglaries targeting Asian families
A man from Seattle—who prosecutors said terrorized Seattle's Asian community with home invasion robberies—was sentenced last Friday.
Prosecutors explained that 28-year-old Demarcus Pate was part of a group that targeted the Asian community, particularly the elderly, during the summer of 2023.
In some cases, they followed their victims home. In other cases, they approached victims getting out of their cars in their driveways.
Pate was charged with a hate crime and confessed.
'This individual pled guilty to not only unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of burglary, but also a hate crime for the intentional targeting of Asian households,' Douglas Wagoner with the King County Prosecutor's Office said.
The crime spree happened in the summer of 2023, a particularly troubling year for hate crimes involving the Asian community. They were fearful for their safety and had to take extra steps to protect themselves.
'We saw 114 anti-Asian hate crimes charged by our office, and that was the most of any year we have on record,' Wagoner said.
Pate eventually pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 6 and a half years in prison.
Prosecutors said that when community safety has been violated, and there is evidence of a crime, charges will follow.
'Home invasions, cases that involve burglary, property crimes, or hate crimes, you're going to see King County prosecutors bring those cases to the courtroom and seek justice,' Wagoner said.
There are additional cases against other suspects in this case that are ongoing. Defendants are innocent until proven guilty.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion is working to bring greater accountability for hate crimes this legislative session with HB 1052, which was approved by the Washington State Legislature and is on Gov. Bob Ferguson's desk pending signature.
This legislation would allow prosecutors statewide to charge hate crimes motivated 'in whole or in part' because of the defendant's perception of the victim's 'race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, or mental, physical, or sensory disability.
"When there is evidence to show that people were victimized by a hate crime – in whole or in part because of a defendant's bias – those perpetrators must be held accountable. Prosecutors need this legal fix to ensure that happens,' King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said. 'I appreciate the leadership of Rep. Cindy Ryu and Sen. Manka Dhingra to hold people accountable when they act out from a place of hate.'
From 2018-April 20, 2025, the KCPAO charged 53 anti-Asian hate crimes after referrals from police investigators.
The years with the specific number of anti-Asian hate crimes:
2018: 4
2019: 2
2020: 7
2021: 13
2022: 8
2023: 14
2024: 5
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
MAGA Supporters Counter Anti-ICE Protests: 'Go Back to Mexico'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Several Donald Trump supporters in Tampa, Florida, have started counter-protests to anti-ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, demonstrations. Video footage posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows a man holding a red "MAGA country" flag chanting "we want ICE" and telling a woman holding a Mexican flag: "If you love Mexico, go back to Mexico." In another clip, a group of men can be seen holding a Trump-Vance banner, before move for a truck coming through. Hundreds gathered outside Tampa's City Hall to protest on Monday, after a weekend of violent clashes between anti-ICE demonstrators and law enforcement. Police intervened during some heated moments between anti-ICE protesters and counter-protesters but there was no violence, according to Tampa broadcaster FOX13. This is a developing story - more to follow.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Charlotte rally calls response to anti-ICE protests in LA ‘state-sanctioned violence'
East Charlotte resident Vincent Kolb's grandmother crossed the border without documentation near El Paso, Texas more than 100 years ago. Her dream was simple: a better life for her children. 'That's the real immigrant story of America — not the one that is being purposed and propagandized by the current administration,' Kolb said. He joined around 40 people outside of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center Monday afternoon to rally against ICE raids across the country and President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. The Charlotte group held signs reading 'Free David Now' and chanted in-between speeches from organizers. The Trump administration made a number of immigration arrests across Southern California Friday, prompting days of protests, according to the Los Angeles Times. Despite objections from L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, Trump activated around 2,000 National Guard troops in response to violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday the state would file a lawsuit against the administration's deployment. 'Today, we are here to show that this is not going to fly in this country,' Jacob Plitman, lead organizer with SEIU 32BJ, said at the rally. 'It's not going to fly in the City of Charlotte, and we demand that they stop the raids.' Organizers also called for the release of David Huerta, president of SEIU California and SEIU United Service Workers West, who was arrested Friday during the L.A. protests for allegedly interfering with law enforcement activity. Plitman said Huerta was exercising his First Amendment rights when he was detained. Huerta made his first appearance in court Monday and was released on a $50,000 bond, the Los Angeles Times reported. 'The arrest of David Huerta is not only an attack on our community — it is an attack on our democracy. It is an attack on every worker in this country,' Stefanía Arteaga, co-executive director of the Carolina Migrant Network said during the rally. Additional speakers from Southeast Asian Coalition and Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council expressed concern about how the federal government is engaging with anti-ICE protesters. Arteaga called it 'state-sanctioned violence.' The economy of the United States does not function without immigrants, Plitman said, noting that Charlotte grocery stores, airport operations and cleaning services all rely on immigrant labor. 'You can't walk down the streets of Charlotte and not point to something where an immigrant, whether documented or not, had an impact,' said Sebastian Feculak, first vice president of the CLC. Charlotte's growth, Plitman said, is thanks to immigrant labor. According to the NC Department of Commerce, 29% of construction workers and around 20% of agricultural workers are foreign-born. He called on local elected officials to better support immigrants and on community members to peacefully demonstrate. The administration can tell the difference between a city 'that's going to let this happen' and a 'strong, organized city that can demonstrate solidarity,' Plitman added. 'I think the more solidarity that we can demonstrate, the more likely we are to protect ourselves,' he said.
UPI
4 hours ago
- UPI
LAPD warns 'many more arrests' as 700 Marines deployed to Los Angeles
1 of 5 | Protesters march to the Metropolitan Detention Center during demonstrations against ICE and immigration raids in Los Angeles on Sunday. On Monday night, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned there will be many more arrests after protests turned violent. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo June 9 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump escalated a war of words with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, as the administration authorized the deployment of 700 Marines to Los Angeles to quell anti-ICE immigration protests that turned violent over the weekend. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the deployment to help defend federal agents amid protests over immigration raids. "We have an obligation to defend federal law enforcement officers -- even if Gavin Newsom will not," Hegseth said Monday. "Due to increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings, approximately 700 active-duty U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order," Hegseth added in a post on X. On Monday night, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned anyone involved in violence or vandalism during the demonstrations will be arrested. McDonnell said officers were forced to fire flash-bang grenades Monday at hundreds of protesters as they tried to push the crowd back from the city's Little Tokyo section. "There is no tolerance for criminal activity under the guise of protest," McDonnell told reporters and warned "there will be many more subsequent arrests." Approximately 70 people were arrested over the weekend. Meanwhile, Trump and Newsom ramped up their rhetoric as the president publicly endorsed calls to arrest the governor. The war of words escalated after the Trump administration deployed 2,000 National Guardsmen over the weekend to protect buildings and residents, a move Newsom called inflammatory for "peaceful" protests, as the administration called the demonstrations "chaos." "While Los Angeles burns -- officers ambushed, city in chaos -- Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom and Maxine Waters call the riots and insurrection 'peaceful,'" The White House wrote Monday in a post on X, showing video of burning cars and protesters closing Highway 101. "They side with mobs. President Trump stands for law and order." While Los Angeles burns-officers ambushed, city in chaos-Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and Maxine Waters call the riots and insurrection "peaceful." These leftists don't care about your safety. They side with mobs. PRESIDENT TRUMP STANDS FOR LAW & ORDER-AND WILL CRUSH THE CHAOS. The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 9, 2025 In response to a reporter question Monday, Trump was asked whether he supported Newsom's taunt to "border czar" Tom Homan to "come and arrest him." "I would do it if I were Tom," Trump said Monday. "I think it's great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing," Trump said, as he called Newsom a "nice guy," but "grossly incompetent." Newsom responded on social media saying, "The president of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America." "I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation -- this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism," Newsom wrote in a post on X. The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation - this is an unmistakable step toward... Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 9, 2025 By Monday evening, Newsom said he would send 800 more state and local officers to Los Angeles. "Chaos is exactly what Trump wanted, and now California is left to clean up the mess," Newsom wrote in a new post on X. "We're working with local partners to surge over 800 additional state and local law enforcement officers to ensure the safety of our L.A. communities." Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta also announced Monday that they have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its activation of the state's National Guard without getting state and local approval first. "California's governor and I are suing to put a stop to President Trump's unlawful, unprecedented order calling federalized National Guard forces into Los Angeles," Bonta said. "The president is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends. This is an abuse of power -- and not one we take lightly." During Friday's raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, demonstrators flooded the streets and freeways to protest their actions. The fire department said it responded to "multiple vehicle fires" during the unrest. Waymo autonomous electric vehicles were among those targeted, according to Los Angeles Fire Department public information officer Erik Scott. "Due to the design of EV battery systems, it's often difficult to apply the water directly to the burning cells, especially in a chaotic environment, and in some cases, allowing the fire to burn is the safest tactic," Scott said. Over the weekend, demonstrators spilled out onto the 101 freeway that runs through downtown L.A. Approximately 70 people were arrested after being ordered to leave the downtown area. Some were also seen throwing objects at officers. "I just met with L.A. immigrant rights community leaders as we respond to this chaotic escalation by the administration," L.A. Mayor Karen Bass wrote Monday evening in a post on X. "Let me be absolutely clear -- as a united city, we are demanding the end to these lawless attacks on our communities. Los Angeles will always stand with everyone who calls our city home." Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania disagreed, and said the protests are not peaceful. "I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations and immigration -- but this is not that. This is anarchy and true chaos," Fetterman wrote Monday night in a post on X. "My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings and assaulting law enforcement."
