OSU student faces felony hate crime charge

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon State University student faces felony charges after police say he stuck racist bumper stickers on cars that belonged to members of a group called Showing Up for Racial Justice.

Andrew Oswalt was indicted this week on two counts of felony intimidation and two counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Ryan Joslin called the act a hate crime “inspired by ignorance and fueled by racism.”

Oswalt initially told a judge at Wednesday’s court appearance that he did not want to apply for a court-appointed attorney. He later changed his mind.

Oswalt said in a recent email to The Oregonian/OregonLive that police are involved in an “extremely politicized attempt at character assassination.”

The 27-year-old student is pursuing a doctorate in chemistry and is a member of the university’s student government.