Man sentenced for hate crime after punching 11-year-old Black boy in unprovoked attack

Paul Jonathan Bittner, 43, has been sentenced to three years and five months after admitting to a racially motivated assault on an 11-year-old child.

Bittner pleaded guilty to second-degree assault of a child and the commission of a hate crime.

What led to Paul Jonathan Bittner’s conviction?

On June 12, 2024, Bittner reportedly approached a group of students walking back from a field trip. He then punched one child in the face without provocation, according to court documents. Witnesses say Bittner used racial slurs and made threatening remarks before and after the assault.

The boy sustained a fractured tooth and a nose injury. He later told police he believed he had been targeted because of his race, Cascadia Daily News reports.

Bittner, who has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, was previously found incompetent to stand trial and underwent three months of inpatient treatment before proceedings resumed.

Community support

Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund issued a statement condemning the attack and affirming the city’s commitment to inclusion: “We continue to stand against hate in any form.”

The boy’s father, Devante, told The Bellingham Herald his son remains emotionally shaken. “He was just walking with his friends, doing what kids do. Now he’s left trying to make sense of being attacked for the color of his skin.”

Bittner’s bail was set at $500,000 prior to sentencing. He remains in custody.