News Releases

Bhavin Patel faces 13 years, four months in state prison if convicted as charged

LOS ANGELES – An employee at Los Angeles County Counsel has been charged with felony hate crimes for sending multiple death threats to an Asian co-worker, as recently as last week.

“My office has no tolerance for acts of hate, which terrorize victims and send waves of fear throughout our county's diverse communities,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Everyone deserves a safe workplace and no one deserves to be vilified for their race or ethnicity. I commend the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for working swiftly and thoroughly on this case. We will do everything we can to seek justice for the victim and ensure their safety.”

“The Office of County Counsel, and the County as a whole, have zero tolerance for harassment of any kind and hate crimes are particularly heinous. We work to create an environment of safety and belonging for all of our employees,” County Counsel Dawyn Harrison said. “As soon as we learned of these hateful acts, we reached out to the Sheriff’s Department to help investigate and identify the perpetrator, while offering support to those maliciously targeted.”

Bhavin Patel (dob 3/8/83) was charged in case 25CJCF05783 with three felony counts each of criminal threats, second-degree burglary and violation of civil rights.

Patel allegedly burglarized the County Hall of Administration on Aug. 25, Aug. 26 and Sept. 4 with prepared threats, which he placed on his co-worker’s desk and nearby cubicles for the purpose of instilling fear in the victim.

The complaint was filed for warrant on Sept. 5. Bail was set at $575,000.

The defendant posted bond and is due in court for arraignment on Nov. 4 in Department 30 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

If convicted as charged, Patel faces a maximum sentence of 13 years and four months in state prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Christopher Stogel of the Hate Crimes Section and remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Hate Crimes Task Force.

The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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