A Federal Way man accused of viciously beating a Sikh cab driver while shouting anti-Muslim slurs now faces a federal hate crime indictment.

Initially charged in King County Superior Court, Jamie W. Larson is accused of attacking a cab driver during an Oct. 17 ride after commenting on the man’s turban. Larson, who is alleged to have torn at the man’s beard and injured his mouth in the attack, apparently believed the Sikh driver to be Muslim.

A federal grand jury in Seattle returned an indictment against Larson late last week; Larson, 49, previously pleaded not guilty to a state charge. He is expected to appear before a U.S. District Court judge Tuesday afternoon.

Announcing the indictment Tuesday, U.S. Attorney for Western Washington Jenny Durkan noted Larson now faces a significant prison sentence under a hate crime law enacted in 2009.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, 2 April 2013

See also “CAIR-WA welcomes federal charges, seeks maximum penalties for Anti-Muslim beating of Sikh cabbie”, CAIR press release, 3 April 2013