Walton, New York Man Convicted in Hate Crime Case

Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith announced that Donald A. Kern, a 34-year-old resident of Walton, New York, has pleaded guilty to Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor.

The charges against Kern stemmed from an incident targeting a young woman based on her race or color. The indictment alleged that Kern threatened the victim with physical harm, specifically by threatening to break the windows of her car while she was inside. In addition, Kern admitted to using racial slurs.

The guilty plea came following a conference on the pending indictment held in Delaware County Court. As part of a negotiated disposition, Kern agreed to the plea deal. Per the terms of the agreement, Kern will serve a 6-month sentence at the Delaware County Correctional Facility.

The court accepted the guilty plea, and the case has been adjourned until April 29, 2024, for sentencing. It is expected that Kern will be taken into custody at that time to begin his incarceration.

District Attorney Shawn Smith expressed appreciation for the diligent work of Sidney Village Police Officer Brendan McDevitt, whose efforts contributed to the successful resolution of the case.

Smith commended Officer McDevitt's commitment to justice and stated, "Although no physical harm occurred in this incident, I firmly believe that a jail sentence is warranted in this case."