Teen Guilty of Hate Crime on Sikh-American Gets 2 Years Probation

Darien, IL - A Willowbrook teenager who pleaded guilty to a hate crime against a Sikh-American man in September has been sentenced to two years of probation.

The male teenager beat Inderjit Singh Mukker, a Sikh-American man, on Sept. 8, 2015, and called him a terrorist during a road rage incident in Darien.

In his sentencing, the teenager, who has not been identified, was also ordered to do 200 hours of community service, part of which must serve the Sikh community, pay $4,869.50 in restitution and undergo counseling, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney's Office.

Harsimran Kaur, the Sikh Coalition legal director and lead attorney on Mukker's case, said in a statement there has been a rise in xenophobic political speech and in hate crimes against Sikh Americans since Mukker was attacked.

"Charging the assailant with a hate crime is an important step towards addressing the broader epidemic," Kaur said. "We hope that those 200 hours of community service are spent with the Sikh American community in an effort to further educate."

Darien police were called to Cass and 69th around 5:15 p.m. Sept. 8 for reports of a battery. Officers found Mukker in his car with cuts and bruises on his face. Mukker and the teenager got into an argument on the road, and they both pulled over.

Prosecutors said the teenager got out of his car, and the two spoke before the teenager punched Mukker in the face. The Sikh Coalition reports the teenager yelled “terrorist ... go back to your country.” Mukker lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital for treatment of a fractured cheekbone and a cut on his cheek.

The investigation led Darien police to the teenager's home, and the teenager punched a police officer in the face when they tried to arrest him, the state's attorney's office reports.

The teenager was originally charged Sept. 11 with five counts of felony aggravated battery, and the state’s attorney’s office later added one hate crime charge, a class 4 felony.

"The importance of a hate crime charge was never about endorsing a harsher penalty for the assailant, but rather ensuring that our government agencies and the American public acknowledge the problem," Kaur said. "Mr. Mukker's case is unfortunately not unique and we must continue to do more to combat this problem together as a nation."

A community rally was held Sept. 15 in Darien at the site of the beating, in support of Mukker, a father of two.

"This is my country, this is my home, I am an American, and no American should be judged or attacked because of the color of their skin and their religion," Mukker said at the rally.

The teenager pleaded guilty to the hate crime Dec. 7.

“My office has zero tolerance for crimes based on hatred or prejudices,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin in a statement. “Not only have the defendant’s outrageous actions on September 8, 2015, taken an emotional, physical and even financial toll on Mr. Mukker that continues to this very day, his actions also have also shaken the entire community. Today, the defendant in this case learned that any attack motivated in whole or in part by a pre-conceived bias against another individual is a serious crime that carries serious consequences."

Catch up on this story:

• Teen Who Punched Sikh-American Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime
• Photos: Community Rallies Behind Darien Man Attacked in Alleged Hate Crime
• Hate Crime Charge Added Against Juvenile Accused of Beating Darien Man
• Sikh Coalition to Hold Community Rally in Response to Assault of Darien Man
• Willowbrook Teenager Charged in Beating of Darien Man
• Attacker Screamed ‘Terrorist Go Back to Your Country’ as He Beat Darien Man