Quincy hate crime: Prison details for man who said 'go back to China,' hit man with car
QUINCY – In a plea deal, a Quincy man has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime arising from an incident in December 2022, when he reportedly told a Vietnamese man to "Go back to China," before ramming him with his car, sending the man into a ditch.
John Sullivan, 78, of Quincy, pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper set the sentencing date for June 26, 2024.
Sullivan confronted a Vietnamese family, including three small children, outside a Quincy post office, where he verbally accosted them and threatened to kill them, the press release says. He then struck one of the family members with his vehicle.
Sullivan continued to drive for about 200 feet with the man still clinging to the hood. He then stopped abruptly, causing the man to slide off onto the ground. Sullivan then struck the man again, causing him to fall into a construction ditch and suffer injury.
Quincy resident Desiree Thien told WCVB, The Patriot Ledger's media partner, that it was her brother who was hit by the car. He was with Thein and her three children when they saw Sullivan speeding down the road, she said. When Thien's brother spoke to Sullivan about his speeding, he then racially harassed and threatened the five of them.
"He rammed into my brother," Thien said. "My brother rolled onto the hood and he clung onto the hood. He went for about a good 200 yards, then he brakes so my brother fell off," Thien said. "When (my brother) was trying to balance, he hit my brother again, continuing his racial slurs."
“The actions of John Sullivan are appalling and a sad reflection of intolerance and hate that is far too prevalent in our society," said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. "Sullivan violently assaulted an individual in front of children because of his race and national origin. This behavior will never be tolerated and we will continue to aggressively prosecute hate crimes.”
The charge Sullivan plead guilty to carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Under the terms of the plea bargain, the prosecution agreed not to recommend more than two years incarceration.
The deal includes three years supervised release under the following conditions:
Participation in educational classes or community service related to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community
Anger management classes
Substance abuse evaluation and treatment
Prohibition against possession of firearms or dangerous weapons
A stay-away-no-contact order from the victim and his family
Restitution to be determined at a later date
By agreeing to the plea bargain, Sullivan gives up his right to appeal the conviction or sentencing. It also does not protect him from any potential civil liability arising from the assault.
Quincy hate crime: Quincy man indicted on federal hate crime charge after allegedly hitting man with car
More: Police: Quincy man hit Asian victim with car after yelling 'Go back to China'
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy man pleads guilty after hitting Vietnamese man with his car
