Lee Mouat

Racist white man from Michigan was sentenced to five years in prison for brutally attacking black teenager with bike lock

By Edward Era Barbacena

'I Beat Him and Knocked His Teeth Out of His Mouth Because He's Black.'

A racist white American man from Michigan was sentenced to 5 years in prison on Thursday for the charge of attacking a black teen ager with a bike lock which was 'unprovoked.'

Lee Mouat, 43, of Newport, Michigan pleaded guilty on March 4 to "willfully causing bodily injury to a Black teenager because of the teenager's race." Along with his five-year prison sentence, he also was given three years of supervised release.

Lee Mouat holding a bike lock

The incident took place in Monroe, Michigan in June of 2020. Mouat approached a group of Black teenagers while at Sterling State Park. Mouat then began to use racial slurs toward the group of teenagers, stating that they had no right to be at the public beach section of the park.

Devin Freelon jr.

The victim, 18-year-old Devin Freelon Jr., was amongst the group of teenagers. He was struck in the mouth with a bike lock by Mouat, cutting his face and fracturing his jaw. Freelon also lost several teeth in the attack. Mouat then attempted to hit another one of the teenagers in the group with the bike lock to no avail.

Mouat admitted to the crime through a plea agreement and court documents.

"The defendant brutally attacked teenagers at a public beach because these young people are Black," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "Hate-fueled violent crimes like this have no place in our communities. Protecting Americans from hate crimes is a top priority of the Justice Department and we will use every tool available to bring perpetrators to justice."

'I Beat Him and Knocked His Teeth Out of His Mouth Because He's Black.' Lee Mouat approached Devin Freelon and Started Calling the Kids Various Racial Slurs, unprovoked. Then, He Viciously Attacked Devin With a Metal Bike Lock 

"Combating hate crimes and protecting individual's civil rights is one of the top priorities of the FBI," said Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters of the FBI Detroit Field Office. "Mouat was held accountable for his violent and hateful actions due to the collaborative efforts of the FBI, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and the Department of Justice. The outcome of this case sends a clear message to our community that law enforcement at every level will investigate crimes motivated by hate and bring the perpetrators to justice."