Federal charges filed for 2020 hate crime against Black missionary

KSL previously reported about a Black missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Panama who was assaulted January 28 that same year.

The victim was reportedly with his companion when they passed a group of around six people.

The group allegedly began yelling racial slurs at the victim. The suspects then reportedly punched and kicked the victim — shoving him to the ground while still assaulting him. The missionary was able to free himself and ran off.

Police at the time said the man’s companion was a white man, and was never targeted during the attack.

Police identified Sebastian Francis West as a suspect in 2020.