Teenager guilty in hate crime

He scraped epithet on African-American family's vehicle

A white Hanover teenager pleaded guilty yesterday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court to committing a hate crime by scraping a profanity-laced racial epithet into a black neighbor's car - an act of vandalism that some in the African-American community said showed racial tensions in the county.

Assistant State's Attorney Laura S. Kiessling said she would seek jail time for Alan Lee Davis, 19, for the damage to the car belonging to Joan and Barry Turner when Davis is sentenced Dec. 22. Davis' lawyer said he would seek probation before judgment.

Kiessling said the Turners' sons heard noises outside while watching television on May 30. They looked out to see Davis vandalizing the family's 2004 Dodge Stratus. Damage to the car included broken mirrors and a smashed rear window.

She said Davis admitted to police that he damaged the car, saying that he "got drunk and that he had done something stupid," and that he knew the victims are black.

As part of the plea agreement, Davis is to pay $3,023 in restitution.

Davis said little during the brief hearing before Judge Joseph P. Manck. Ira Wagonheim, his lawyer, said he was under psychiatric care and was in drug rehabilitation.

Kiessling said Davis had no personal issue with the Turner family.

"He is not a bigot," said Wagonheim, who described the Davis family as very upset about their son's actions and his client as troubled at the time.

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