DA: Hate Crime Charges In Indian Hill Trail Attack

The Monroe County District attorneys office has announced hate crime charges from the June attack on the Indian Hill Trail, located off of Route 31.

The suspect Derrick Van Epps pleaded not guilty to attempted murder as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime. He’s back in the county jail.

In a release the DA’s Office and the Grand Jury believe he attacked the victim because of his race, skin color and national origin and that he singled the victim out because of those factors.

Stephen Ryck, Assistant District Attorney: “So in this case in particular the indictment is that the defendant selected this victim on account of his race, color, national origin or ancestry.”

The vicitim of the attack Dylan Ghaemi was jumped from behind by a man with a knife. He says he was attacked and that is hands were heavily bandaged from cuts as he fought off Van Epps.