A Wayne County grand jury indicted Brandon Watt after prosecutors said racial threats preceded a June assault that seriously injured Johnny White.
LYONS, N.Y. — A Newark man accused of attacking his Black neighbor after weeks of racial threats pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that include second-degree assault as a hate crime, marking a significant turn in a case that began with an assault investigation in June.
Brandon Watt, 39, was arraigned Sept. 1 in Wayne County Court after a grand jury returned an indictment in connection with the June 23 attack on Johnny White. Prosecutors said Watt repeatedly directed racial slurs and threats at White before the confrontation. White suffered fractures to his nose, jaw and orbital bone in the attack, according to police.
The indictment adds a hate crime allegation to a case that initially drew charges including second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities had not classified the case as a hate crime during the early stages of the investigation, saying additional evidence still had to be reviewed and that charging decisions ultimately rested with prosecutors.
Police said the history between the neighbors dated back at least to June 1, when officers responded to the 300 block of Siegrist Street for a harassment complaint. White told investigators that a man had threatened him while using racial slurs. Police initially did not identify the suspect in that incident.
Officers returned to the neighborhood June 23 after receiving a report of a disturbance. Investigators said Watt struck White from behind as White retreated toward the side yard of his home and then struck him several more times. Police recovered a 2-by-4 from the scene as evidence. Investigators later identified Watt as the suspect in the earlier harassment complaint involving White.
White, who is now 71, required hospital treatment for serious facial injuries. His relatives repeatedly raised concerns about the racial language they said preceded the assault and called for authorities to examine whether the attack met the standard for a hate crime. The grand jury’s indictment came more than two months after the confrontation.
Watt was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs after Tuesday’s arraignment and was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail. Second Assistant Wayne County District Attorney Justin Hill said second-degree assault as a hate crime is a Class C felony and carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison if Watt is convicted.
White and members of his family attended the court proceeding. Afterward, White said the months since the attack had taken a physical and emotional toll but that he wanted the case resolved through the court system. His family has continued to support him during his recovery and throughout the criminal proceedings.
Watt’s defense attorney declined to comment after the arraignment. Watt is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. He is expected to return to Wayne County Court later in September as the case proceeds.
Author note: Last updated September 2, 2026.