Yolo County prosecutors today filed the charges against Pedro Ramirez and Johnny Morales. They allegedly assaulted cab driver Harbhajan Singh on November 28th…and apparently mistook him for a Muslim. Singh wears a turban.
Ramirez and Morales are accused of shouting anti-Islamic slurs while beating him and demanding money.
Amar Shergill is Sing's attorney. He says the Sikh community is glad prosecutors are pursuing this as a hate crime.
"It's very good in helping victims come forward. But second, I also think it sends an important message to those that are fueled by hatred that they know that the communities here locally will not let these types of crimes go unpunished."
Shergill says Singh is still recuperating from the attack in which he suffered injuries to his face and rib cage.