Cooler but still well above normal this week

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A Minnesota man is facing federal hate crime charges for allegedly assaulting a Black man in Belle Plaine nearly a year ago.

Federal charges were filed last week against 35-year-old Justin Anthony Kudla. He’s charged with using force and injuring a man because of his race at a bar in Belle Plaine on Feb. 3, 2024.

Kudla faces state charges in the incident, too. According to a complaint filed in Scott County last February, Kudla called the man a racial slur and punched him outside a bar. 

A friend of the victim, who worked at the bar, reported the incident to police. Authorities obtained surveillance video of the incident. According to the complaint, the video shows Kudla punching the other man and leaving him unconscious on the ground around 2 a.m. Another person helped him home shortly after.

According to court documents, the man went to the hospital the next day, and was diagnosed with a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury.

Friends and witnesses told authorities Kudla had previously called the man racial and homophobic slurs.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, an FBI investigation led to the federal complaint. 

A jury trial on the state charges is scheduled to start on Jan. 21. Kudla is due in federal court Thursday for a hearing on the new charges.

Minnesota News

Crime, Law and Justice

Social Issues

Conversations around race and racial justice

NewsPartners

Homepage

Estelle Timar-Wilcox

Author

A Minnesota man is facing federal hate crime charges for allegedly assaulting a Black man in Belle Plaine nearly a year ago.


Minnesota man charged with hate crime in Belle Plaine assault

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox