A woman who made national news when three Asian Americans accused her of going on racial tirades against them has been sentenced to 45 days in jail.
ABC7 News reports Lena Hernandez, 54, agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor battery in exchange for the 45 day sentence.
As AsAmNews reported back in June, the retired social worker is accused of telling a woman to “go back to whatever f*cking Asian country you belong in and telling a father and his young child the same day threatening the two and then saying “do you understand me, Chinaman.”
In a third incident that happened in October, she is also accused of harassing a janitor and an Asian woman at a local mall and shoving her to the ground.
The suspect had only been charged for the first incident in a local mall.
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Hernandez had been scheduled to appear in court Monday morning, but failed to show up. A bench warrant had been issued for her arrest before she appeared that afternoon.
“This is a clear indication of her lack of respect for the judicial system and her lack of concern for the victim,” Sandy Roxas, an attorney for the victims said to Rafu Shimpo.
After the sentencing, she repeated his displeasure.
“What message does it send to other perpetrators, other violent racists out there that you can just assault someone, you can push them to the ground and only walk away with a 45-day sentence?” Roxas said to KABC.
The station reported the victims are not happy with the plea bargain and feel Hernandez should have been sentenced to more time.
In June, the victims issued a joint statement saying Torrance Police were not “treating these actions seriously.”
In an interview with AsAmNews that month, a man who asked to be only identified as victim 3 told us “My 11-year old heard the whole thing loud and clear,” said the male Japanese American who spoke to AsAmNews and asked only to be identified as victim number three. “He was shocked and scared. This hate crime was directed at an 11 year old who experienced racism for the first time in his life and he’s having trouble sleeping. How do you explain this to kids? Do you say this happens everyday and get used to it.”
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This has to stop! Hate crime! We Asians have to fight back! I’m 2nd generation born here a Norwegian Chinese. Been through this back in 60s. I never hated anyone. but I thought I was wrong. Actually it was them- the square eyes narrow minded people. Telling me to gp back!