Two alleged white supremacists have been charged with federal hate crimes over racially motivated attacks on three people, including two US Marines, near California's Oceanside Pier in June 2025.
Austin Yohe, 23, and Daniel Burns, 30, were charged in an indictment unsealed in federal court on 30 September. Both also face obstruction of justice charges over allegations they lied to authorities about their involvement.
The FBI arrested Yohe in Riverside on 29 September, while Burns was taken into custody at an associate's home in Wilsonville, Alabama, according to the US Department of Justice.
A third defendant, Johnny Lee Lane, 23, pleaded guilty to three federal hate crime offences on 30 September. Prosecutors said Lane admitted participating in the attacks with Yohe and Burns and acknowledged that the assaults were racially motivated.
The first alleged victim, identified in court documents as T.L.W., was a 21-year-old Black and Asian American man. The other victims were two Marines, identified as T.J., a 24-year-old Black man, and E.H., a 23-year-old white man.
Victim Hospitalised After Beach Assault
According to the indictment, Yohe, Burns and Lane drove from Riverside to Oceanside on 7 June 2025. At about 8:30pm, T.L.W. was sitting on a bench north of the pier with his wife after attending a family funeral earlier that day.
Prosecutors allege Yohe and Burns approached the couple, identified themselves as 'skinheads' and attacked T.L.W. without provocation.
The indictment alleges they punched him repeatedly, kicked and stomped on him and slammed his head against a concrete wall. As T.L.W. tried to crawl away, Lane allegedly approached and yelled 'Get that n*****!' before kicking and stomping on him.
T.L.W. was subsequently hospitalised with a concussion, head swelling, cuts and bruises.
The three men then allegedly moved towards a plaza near the pier, where T.J. and E.H. were waiting to eat at a nearby restaurant.
Prosecutors allege the defendants shouted racial slurs at the Marines before returning one or two minutes later. Yohe allegedly punched E.H. in the face, while Burns punched T.J. in the head. The Marines initially attempted to de-escalate the confrontation, prosecutors said, but the assault continued.
E.H. suffered a concussion, orbital and sinus fractures and a fractured cheekbone. T.J. suffered multiple head contusions and a hand injury that required physical therapy.
White Supremacist Links and Obstruction Charges
The indictment alleges Yohe and Burns claim membership in COORS 88, which prosecutors describe as a group that espouses white supremacy. Burns also allegedly has a 'skinhead' tattoo on his arm.
The defendants are additionally accused of attempting to conceal their roles in the attacks. Prosecutors allege Burns told Oceanside police that he was not involved and falsely claimed he had just left a gym in San Bernardino. He later allegedly told FBI agents the confrontation began after E.H. punched Yohe.
Yohe is accused of telling Riverside court personnel that he went to Oceanside because a friend was stranded and needed a ride, and that he and his friend had been attacked.
Lane was released on a $25,000 (£18,500) personal appearance bond following his guilty plea. His sentencing is scheduled for 8 January 2027.
A federal court has scheduled a motion hearing and trial setting for 30 October. The charges against Yohe and Burns remain allegations, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
