Black Boy Punched, Slurred at by White Man—Judge Hands Down Light Penalty

A white individual, Paul Jonathan Bittner, 43, has been sentenced to over three years behind bars after confessing to felony charges associated with a racially charged attack on a young Black boy last summer. On June 12, 2024, in Bellingham, Washington, Bittner pleaded guilty to second-degree assault against a child and committing a hate crime, as reported by The Bellingham Herald.The incident unfolded when Bittner approached a group of students and educators from Whatcom Middle School, post-field trip. He confronted an 11-year-old Black student, delivering a punch that chipped the child’s tooth while questioning him, “Are you going to talk to a white man like that?” Following his arrest, Bittner reportedly made further racist comments, using slurs repeatedly.After initially entering a plea of not guilty, a court later deemed him not competent to stand trial due to a bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder diagnosis. Ultimately, he received a 41-month prison sentence, followed by 18 months of supervised release, coupled with a ten-year no-contact order with the victim. The child’s father expressed satisfaction with the verdict, emphasizing the importance of addressing Bittner’s mental health issues. (Credit: Tri-City Herald Video Screenshot)