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Toledo men charged with hate crime in beating of black man

By Sarah Mulé
Charles Butler, left, and Robert Paschalis are charged with a federal hate crime for the beating of an African-American man. Screenshot from 13abc Action News
Charles Butler, left, and Robert Paschalis are charged with a federal hate crime for the beating of an African-American man. Screenshot from 13abc Action News

TOLEDO, Ohio, July 30 (UPI) -- Two Toledo, Ohio, men were charged Friday with a federal hate crime in the May beating of an African-American man they passed on the street.

Charles Butler, Jr., 33, and Robert Paschalis, 25, were charged with violating the federal Hate Crime Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,00 fine.

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According to an affidavit , the two men drove past the victim, Adrian Williams, 46, as he was loading items into the back of his truck on May 18.

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Butler and Paschalis circled back to Williams, got out of their truck and began attacking Williams while yelling racial slurs, prosecutors said .

Two off-duty Ohio State Police officers stopped the attack, officials said. Williams suffered an orbital fracture and damage to his right eye.

Court documents state Butler later posted to Facebook the attack was, "in the name of the White Race."

Butler is scheduled to stand trail on Aug. 1. Paschalis is still awaiting a trial date.

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