DuPage hate crime convict re-sentenced to two years in prison
A former Darien man who was convicted of a hate crime for attacking a black man in a gas station was resentenced Thursday to two years in prison after he admitted violating his probation.
Ali Akel, 35, failed to report as required to a probation officer the last two months. He also went to Wisconsin without permission to leave the state, DuPage County prosecutors said.
Akel pleaded guilty to a felony hate crime charge in December and received two years of probation and a year of periodic confinement in the county jail. On Thursday, Judge George Bakalis resentenced him to two years in prison after he waived his right to a hearing and admitted to the probation violations.
Authorities charged Akel in June 2011 after he hurled racial slurs at and spat on a black man waiting in line at a Woodridge gas station. Authorities said he then threw down the victim and beat him without provocation. A bystander pulled Akel off the 22-year-old victim, who suffered minor injuries.
In court Thursday, Akel repeatedly apologized for his actions. Authorities said he will receive credit toward his prison term for 168 days already served.