SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – Kurt C. Boerner, 53, was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison for a hate crime and assault that occurred in July at a Spokane Valley retail store.

According to court documents, Boerner used a racial slur against an employee before pulling a pocketknife and lunging at him. The employee managed to avoid harm and other employees detained Boerner until law enforcement arrived.

The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office charged Boerner with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, a hate crime with a deadly weapon and custodial assault. Earlier this month, a jury found him guilty on all counts.

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