NEWARK, NEW YORK — A neighborhood dispute has turned into a serious criminal case after a 39-year-old New York man was indicted on a hate crime charge for allegedly attacking his elderly Black neighbor with a 2-by-4.
Brandon Watt, 39, pleaded not guilty Tuesday, September 1, after a Wayne County grand jury indicted him on charges including second-degree assault as a hate crime and harassment.
According to prosecutors, Watt allegedly targeted his neighbor, Johnny White, 71, in the weeks leading up to the June 23 attack. Authorities say Watt repeatedly directed racial slurs toward White and made threats before the situation allegedly escalated into violence.
Police accuse Watt of eventually attacking White with a piece of lumber.
The alleged assault left White with serious facial injuries, including fractures to his nose, jaw and orbital bone, according to authorities.
The case has drawn attention in the Newark community, particularly because White and his family had reportedly been pushing for authorities to treat the alleged attack as a hate crime.
White’s family and supporters attended Watt’s arraignment Tuesday, with family members wearing shirts showing their support for the 71-year-old victim. White also spoke with local media following the court appearance.
The hate crime designation means prosecutors are alleging that race played a role in the attack. The charge is significantly more serious than a standard assault allegation.
Watt was previously facing assault-related charges stemming from the incident, but the grand jury indictment now adds the hate crime component to the case.
Despite the allegations, Watt is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. He pleaded not guilty during Tuesday’s arraignment.
The case is now moving forward through Wayne County Court, where prosecutors will have to prove their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
For White and his family, however, the case has already had a major impact. The alleged attack left an elderly man hospitalized with multiple facial fractures and sparked community concern over claims that he had been subjected to racial harassment before the physical confrontation.
As the criminal case continues, the focus will remain on the evidence surrounding what happened on June 23, what led up to the confrontation, and whether prosecutors can establish that the alleged assault was motivated by racial bias.
Watt’s next court proceedings are expected later this month.
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