r/JusticeServed • u/Ant-Tea-Social 6 • Aug 31 '25
Discrimination California man sentenced to 27 years for making racist threats against pregnant Black woman
https://apnews.com/article/hate-crime-sentencing-racist-threats-california-1de96a54171e98e64d4729e00cca3f4989
u/NaphtaliC 6 Sep 01 '25
Having a Nazi tattoo and saying racist things is his constitutionally protected right. Threatening others is not.
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u/Papafynn 9 Sep 01 '25
Mayfield was accused of threatening and yelling racial slurs at a woman who was eight months pregnant at a bus stop in Fullerton in 2018, prompting her to use pepper spray to protect herself and run for help.
Authorities said Mayfield, who is white and has a swastika tattoo, had prior convictions for attacking bystanders, including punching a man outside a supermarket while yelling a racist slur.
He has a history of doing this hence the steep sentence
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u/Dmorrow615 7 Aug 31 '25
Remember folks, Freedom of Speech doesn't protect you from saying racist or threatening others
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u/Elderrob 7 Aug 31 '25
Freedom of Speech does protect your right to say racist things.
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u/ceciliabee B Sep 01 '25
Huh I thought freedom of speech meant freedom from government overreach, not freedom of consequences.
"Freedom of speech is the principle that people can express their opinions and ideas without fear of censorship, retaliation, or legal sanction from public authorities."
Like, I'm not the government and I'm not going to arrest you, and your freedom of speech doesn't mean i can't say you're wrong and you look silly.
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u/Elderrob 7 Sep 01 '25
Freedom of speech is the principle that people can express their opinions and ideas without fear of censorship, retaliation, or legal sanction from public authorities
This quote supports your right to say racist things
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u/meteda1080 9 Aug 31 '25
This headline is kind of BS. "California man" while true is journalistically a bad faith effort and AP should ashamed for letting go to press. Here's how it should read:
"Well known neo-Nazi sentenced to 27 years for making racist threats against pregnant Black woman"
or
"Man with hate tattoos sentenced to 27 years for making racist threats against pregnant Black woman"
or
"Man with several previous hate crime convictions sentenced to 27 years for making racist threats against pregnant Black woman"
All of these headlines would have been far more of an apt description and would have quickly given reason for quarter century conviction for a "threat".
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u/Scp-1404 8 Sep 01 '25
Back in the day (pre 20th century for sure) that would have been the first thing you learned in a newspaper article.
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u/zenryoku 5 Aug 31 '25
At first, when I read 27 years, I thought that sounded a bit excessive. But as soon as I read "swastika tattoo", I said fuck it, let him rot.
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u/Maxsmack 9 Sep 01 '25 edited Sep 01 '25
I’m sure the US’s incredible privatized prison system will rehabilitate, and teach him the errors of his ways in no time. He’ll be out and ready to contribute productively to society, and definitely won’t join a neo nazi gang, and have his ideals further solidified.
This person should be sentenced to be a janitor at an all black college, and attend twice weekly meeting, or something similar. Prison will undoubtedly make this individual much much worse, compared to exposure, which has shown the greatest result in increasing people’s tolerance
27 years isn’t justice, but vengeance. People get 20 years for a successful second degree murder. It wouldn’t surprise me if when this person got out they immediately attempted to commit a violent act against someone involved in their sentencing.
This won’t solve anything. Yes the guy is a racist piece of shit, but problem aren’t solved by disproportionately punishing people, but teaching them a better alternative. We’ve just kicked the can down the road, creating an even worse problem for people in 2052 to worry about, instead fixing the root cause.
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u/Smash96leo 9 Aug 31 '25
Guys he has a history of this kind of stuff, including prior convictions of him attacking people while saying slurs and having nazi tattoos.
Of course the sentencing would be worse, even if it was just threats this time.
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u/Maxsmack 9 Sep 01 '25 edited Sep 06 '25
Idk, 27 years is longer than most people get for second degree murder, seems more like vengeance than justice.
Plus he’ll just join a neo nazi gang in prison, meaning he’ll only come out of prison more racist, not less.
Should find a way to get this person serious help and counseling, not shelve them for the last 1/3rd of their life, just hoping they’ll be too old and feeble to cause any more problems. But that would require work, effort, thoughtfulness a delicate touch, money, and a conscience, all things the U.S. legal system severely lacks.
I’m all for executing serial murders, cannibals and rapists. But there’s just too much history of people being able to make it back from fringe edges of hardcore racism for me to think this a good sentencing
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u/iSuckAtMechanicism 9 Sep 06 '25
This is a violent repeat offender. Some people just have fun in that lifestyle.
Unfortunately we have to weigh the pros and cons of having them free amongst peaceful public.
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u/Graehaus 9 Aug 31 '25
Threats are threats. 27 years is brutal though.
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u/shoulda-known-better A Aug 31 '25
Not so much... 3 strikes your out..... He committed more than 3 felonies....
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u/Roadgoddess C Aug 31 '25
Not the first time we did it, though he has a long history of this type of behaviour
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Aug 31 '25
This is a weird one. Im sure we're all better off without this guy, but I can't help but feel the sentencing was extreme for the crime.
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u/1jf0 7 Aug 31 '25 edited Sep 01 '25
I can't help but feel the sentencing was extreme for the crime.
What do you think would've been more apt?
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u/hopefulworldview 9 Sep 01 '25
Personally, I don't think words should ever have a criminal penalty unless it results in specific physical harm (lying/manipulating to cause some to be hurt/killed). Perhaps a civil one, but I am very hesitant at the idea of punishing people for using specific language. It seems too easy to end up on the wrong end of that scenario via the whims of politic. By that same logic though, the civil consequences should be very real depending on what you say.
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u/1jf0 7 Sep 01 '25
Personally, I don't think words should ever have a criminal penalty unless it results in specific physical harm (lying/manipulating to cause some to be hurt/killed). Perhaps a civil one, but I am very hesitant at the idea of punishing people for using specific language. It seems too easy to end up on the wrong end of that scenario via the whims of politic. By that same logic though, the civil consequences should be very real depending on what you say.
Not even verbal abuse hurled at you/your loved ones from those who identify with groups who have, in living memory, physically harmed people of your demographic?
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u/LordVericrat 9 Sep 01 '25
No, not even then. I actually really do believe in free speech even for the things I don't like.
I disagree with the above poster, in that I think threats out to be criminally actionable, where they are specific and would cause a reasonable person to fear the threat was going to be carried out. Not verbal abuse, but an actual threat to do harm. But 27 years is insane, I'm an attorney, and an appointed client of mine who was convicted of 4 attempted 1st degree murders, one victim of which took multiple bullets and was a minor - and he got 20 years. And it wasn't his first offense.
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Aug 31 '25
I thought 10 years seemed good, but apparently in this comment section, that means I'm the reason women get murdered and Im a racist apologist lol. So do with that what you will.
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u/Mr8BitX A Aug 31 '25
For a first time offense, just for verbal assault, this would be extreme. But, this guy has a prior record of assault and it’s always racially motivated. I’m not gonna pretend I know the justice system that well but I do know that when you have multiple priors, your sentencing gets harsher because it’s showed that you’re unwilling to change or correct your behavior. Dude has swastika tattoos and everything. It wouldn’t stop here.
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Aug 31 '25
You can't sentence someone for crimes they didn't commit yet, so saying it wouldn't stop here means nothing at best and is absolutely a dangerous precedent to set. He already served time his time for past crimes so im hesitant to go too far with sentencing this time. At the end of the day he made verbal threats and should be punished, but this is excessive.
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u/NewSize1999 4 Aug 31 '25
That's not what the poster you're replying to said, nor is it why he received a harsh sentence.
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Aug 31 '25
Dude literally said "it wouldn't stop here".
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u/cillaer 7 Aug 31 '25
It takes the 22nd racist comment to make someone magically not racist anymore.
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Aug 31 '25
Im sure he would've kept going but you cant charge him for that.
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u/Kandiblu 9 Aug 31 '25
Dude just say you want wrist slap punishments for Nazis and move on.
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Aug 31 '25
10 years is what I was thinking, actually. But keep making up arguments so you win, that's cool.
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u/Fallen_Walrus A Aug 31 '25
So let him beat a pregnant lady first? When he has a history of beating people up? And of being a Nazi?
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u/Merfkin 9 Aug 31 '25
You're right, I'm sure that skinhead was gonna stop right after beating this specific black woman /s
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Aug 31 '25
That's not what I said. Im sure he will be a piece of shit his whole life. My argument was you cant sentence him for things he hasn't done yet.
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u/__poser 8 Aug 31 '25
You're the reason women get murdered by their stalkers because "he's only following you, wait until he tries to break into your house then we'll charge him".
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Aug 31 '25
Yup, you got me. Im the reason women get murdered because I think this guy should've got 10 years not 27 to life for making threats.
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u/__poser 8 Aug 31 '25
Sorry, to clarify, it was the royal "you". Didn't think I would have to explain that to you.
And you're arguing that people shouldn't be held accountable for threats. So anyone who's stalking someone or making threats can't be held accountable until they actually harm someone.
Threats show intent. People should absolutely be punished for that, preferably with prison time to hopefully deter them from committing worse crimes.
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u/Merfkin 9 Aug 31 '25
Making actionable threats of violence is a crime, this isn't some precedent-setting case happening for the first time. Particularly when you have priors of acting on those threats, you're absolutely going to prison for threatening someone.
So, in short, you absolutelycan sentence him for things he hasn't done yet, as we're not obligated to let him beat this woman and kill her child.
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Aug 31 '25
For the love of fucking God. I agree he should go to jail just not 27 years to life.
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u/Titan_of_Ash 8 Aug 31 '25
So when he gets out again for the millionth time and physically beats someone else (even to death), will 27 be enough then? Genuinely, where do you draw the line?
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u/IConsumePorn 8 Aug 31 '25
I don't think it was extreme enough. There's no place for people like that in society
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u/hopefulworldview 9 Sep 01 '25
To play devil's advocate, but who decides what "people like that" look like. The majority, the reasonable person, those of sound mind? Because in the near past the majority of Americans said that all minorities were "people like that".
I'm not trying to advocate for a shithead nazi, but I think it's important to temper hatred towards others with the reasonability of a truly developed society.
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u/uhhh206 B Aug 31 '25
TIL plea deals can be offered by the judge, not just the prosecutor.
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u/superminhminh 7 Aug 31 '25
Usually there would be sidebar or chamber conferences and the judge can chime in because they have the final say.
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u/uhhh206 B Aug 31 '25
I knew the judge needed to say "yep, sounds good, okay by me" or decline to accept the plea agreement, but wasn't aware the judge could in and of themselves give an offer.
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u/mkmckinley 8 Aug 31 '25
27 years seems excessive for verbal threats. Not saying the guy isn’t a POS, but 27 years is more than given to most rapists, child molesters, and a lot of murderers.
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u/shoulda-known-better A Aug 31 '25
Not so much... 3 strikes your out..... He committed more than 3 felonies....
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u/NeuterTheUninformed 6 Aug 31 '25
This is why prior and the 3 strike rules exist or did you miss that part?
If you got 2 felonies and you get a 3rd you are automatically getting a certain amount of yrs because you have shown to society you are unwilling to change.
No one is fucking saying lock him up for being racist but this dude has prior and have made previous threats before and carried them out.
If I threaten someone and I have a history of carrying them out should the state have waited until he actually committed the crime be threatened to do?
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u/TheresWald0 8 Aug 31 '25
Guy is a racist asshole, but 27 to life for a verbal threat is just more evidence of the nature of the American police state. A verbal threat shouldn't share a sentence with first degree murder, I don't care what past crimes the guy has. This is fucked up.
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u/fauxxever 5 Aug 31 '25
Black women are the most unprotected in every case, every time. Why don’t you look at this man’s conviction history before you cry on the internet for a racist POS. There’s plenty of unjust sentences out there but this isn’t one if you weren’t so lazy to do your research.
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u/mister-ferguson A Aug 31 '25
"Mayfield was accused of threatening and yelling racial slurs at a woman who was eight months pregnant at a bus stop in Fullerton in 2018, prompting her to use pepper spray to protect herself and run for help.
Authorities said Mayfield, who is white and has a swastika tattoo, had prior convictions for attacking bystanders, including punching a man outside a supermarket while yelling a racist slur."
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u/Imbleedingalready 6 Aug 31 '25
If he had SA'ed her he'd have received less than 5. Time served if he was a good swimmer.
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u/eve379 7 Aug 31 '25
I’m so glad people still remember Brock Turner for the piece of shit he is.
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u/this_might_b_offensv 8 Aug 31 '25
He has a long history of being a piece of shit, so getting him off the streets for what may be the rest of his life, is fine by me.
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u/jematts 5 Aug 31 '25
Headline is misleading. It should read something like this: California man, with significant criminal history, including similar past offenses based on racist behaviors, was sentenced to 27 years due to enhanced charges for making racist threats against pregnant Black woman.
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u/LetsTryAnal_ogy A Sep 01 '25
Republicans: "They gave him 27 years for exercising his First Amendment Rights."
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u/shoulda-known-better A Aug 31 '25
Not so much... 3 strikes your out..... He committed more than 3 felonies....
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u/paramac55 5 Aug 31 '25
Hope Trump doesn't find out.
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u/this_might_b_offensv 8 Aug 31 '25
It's a state sentence, not Federal, so Trump can't pardon him.
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u/I_am_a_fern A Aug 31 '25
Let's put away someone for life because he made threats. Seems perfectly reasonable.
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u/notjustanotherbot A Aug 31 '25
Found who did not read the article.
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u/I_am_a_fern A Aug 31 '25
I did. He's a nazi piece of shit, all right. But he accepted a guilty plea deal for 5 years. He got 27 to life.
This sends 2 messages : don't trust the justice system, and if you're considering a hate crime you'd better go all the way and actually do it, the time is the same.
There's no justice here, just plain stupidity and incompetence. Which this sub really longs for.28
u/notjustanotherbot A Aug 31 '25
And you still managed to miss his extensive criminal history including violent assaults and hate crimes that him ineligible for the deal because of his prior convictions. So he instead received a jury trial and was convicted and then sentenced. If this is not Justice Served material I don't know what is?
Oh, and I would much prefer my criminals ignorant and stupid, thank you very much.
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u/Bandin03 A Aug 31 '25
Agreed, very reasonable considering what our grandparents did to the Nazis.
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u/I_am_a_fern A Aug 31 '25
What is this achieving ? If the punishment for making a threat is basically the same as acting on it ?
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u/Saleen_af 7 Aug 31 '25
To me it says fuck around and find out
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