""Everyone deserves a safe workplace and no one deserves to be vilified for their race or ethnicity," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. Patel, who worked in the county counsel office, allegedly broke into the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration on Aug. 25, Aug. 26 and Sept. 4 with "prepared threats," which he scattered on the co-worker's desk and nearby cubicles "for the purpose of instilling fear in the victim," according to a statement from the District Attorney's office."
""The Office of County Counsel, and the County as a whole, have zero tolerance for harassment of any kind, and hate crimes are particularly heinous," Harrison said. "We work to create an environment of safety and belonging for all of our employees." The county counsel is composed of in-house lawyers for the county, providing legal advice to the county's dozens of apartments. Patel's job description was not provided, but he was not a licensed lawyer, according to the state bar registry."
Bhavin Patel, 42, has been charged with making criminal threats, burglary and violation of civil rights and could face up to 13 years in prison if convicted. Patel allegedly entered the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration on Aug. 25, Aug. 26 and Sept. 4 and left prepared death threats on an Asian co-worker's desk and nearby cubicles to instill fear. The county did not identify the victim. The county counsel reported contacting the sheriff's department and emphasized zero tolerance for harassment and hate crimes. Patel worked in the county counsel office but was not a licensed lawyer. Anti-Asian crimes in the county rose in 2023, with 80 victims reported.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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