Bethel Park man sentenced for federal hate crime in attack on Indian man
Jeffrey A. Burgess
The Bethel Park man who uttered “things are different now” during an anti-Muslim rant in November 2016 before punching an Indian man in the head at a South Hills Village Mall restaurant has been spared prison time after pleading guilty to federal hate crimes.
U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer sentenced Jeffrey Allen Burgess, who pleaded guilty in November, to three years probation and four months house arrest as part of the federal sentence handed down April 6.
Burgess, 56, of 5 Dorchester Drive, also must perform 50 hours of community service, undergo treatment for alcohol abuse and participate in a restorative justice program administered by Center for Victims. Restitution to the victim will be determined at a later date.
While sitting at the mall’s Red Robin restaurant bar Nov. 22, 2016, Burgess attacked Ankur Mehta after using several ethnic slurs. Bethel Park police said at the time that Mehta is of Indian descent.
“I don’t want you sitting next to me, you people,” Burgess said, according to Bethel Park police.
Mehta was using an electronic tablet and had earbuds in, so he was unaware of the comments Burgess was making, police said. Just before leaving, Burgess told Mehta “things are different now” before striking him in the face with his elbow and then grabbing him by the head, punching him.
Police did not elaborate on what Burgess meant by things being different.
Mehta, who suffered a loose tooth and cut to his upper lip, went to St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon for treatment. Burgess, who police said was drunk during the attack, was arrested in the mall food court, which connects to the restaurant.
Bethel Park police charged him with ethnic intimidation, simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness. All charges were dismissed last March to allow the hate crime case to proceed to federal court.
Port Authority police cited Burgess for public drunkenness May 26 in a separate case in Mt. Lebanon, according to online court records. He pleaded guilty to the summary offense the following month.