Two men, Derrick M. Donchak, 20, and Brandon J. Piekarsky, 18, on trial in a Pennsylvania federal court in connection with the beating death of an undocumented Mexican immigrant have been found guilty on all counts, including hate crimes. The all-white jury deliberated on the case for approximately six and a half hours before reaching a verdict. Sentencing is set for January 24. The federal court judge denied a motion for bail, calling their crime “a crime of violence.” Both attackers could face sentences of life in prison.
The pair had been previously acquitted of murder charges in state court and convicted of simple assault.
Witnesses testified in federal court that the pair used racial slurs before and during the attack and that Ramirez was kicked in the head repeatedly after falling down. The defendants, they said, didn’t want immigrants in their neighborhood and repeatedly ordered Ramirez to leave.
The victim is survived by his two children