An Edmonds man has admitted to participating in the burning of a cross at the home of a Middle Eastern family in 2004.
Collin Patrick Sargent, 19, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate civil rights Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Sargent admitted that he helped build a 5-foot cross and drive it to the family’s house in the 16600 block of 75th Place W.
The cross was set on fire in the front yard of the house. The flames charred some shrubs but didn’t damage the house. The family was vacationing in Eastern Washington when a family friend called to tell them about the fire.
Two other men have been indicted in the case. Jayson Russell, 19, of Snohomish and Joseph Lin, 18, of Lynnwood were charged Wednesday with conspiracy to make false statements to a grand jury and two counts of false declaration before a grand jury, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to the indictment, the men discussed a misleading story to tell the grand jury.
Russell told jurors that he left Sargent’s house before the cross burning. Lin said he didn’t know anything about the cross burning until a week after it happened, according to the Justice Department.
According to the indictment, both men were present during the cross burning, and Russell attempted to call the family’s son and later called the son’s girlfriend to report the incident. Russell and Lin face up to five years in prison on each count if convicted.
Sargent is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 7. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
The FBI continues to investigate the case.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@ heraldnet.com.
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