Houston Man With Ties To Aryan Brotherhood Charged With Hate Crime

HOUSTON, TX — A Houston man who officials said has ties to the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, was charged with a hate crime Wednesday after he was accused of shouting racial slurs as he tried to stab an African-American man Tuesday.

James Scott Lee II, 32, faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with a hate crime enhancement added, which increases the maximum punishment from 20 years to life in prison, if convicted.

Tom Berg, a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, said Lee, who is white, screamed, “I hate N…...and I’m going to kill me one today,” as he brandished a knife toward his intended victim, who is black.

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Lee’s intended victim, who happens to be his neighbor, was able to run and lock himself in his car, and call police.

When police arrested Lee, he had a knife and a pair of brass knuckles in his possession.

During his probable cause hearing, Lee, who wore a leather vest with Nazi SS insignia visible on the front, became agitated when the charges against him were read in court, and denied using racial slurs.

During the hearing, Berg said Lee is either mentally ill or has a deep -seated animosity toward African Americans.

Lee is in the Harris County Jail with bond set at $250,000.

Image: Harris County Jail

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