Two White Supremacists Charged with Federal Hate Crimes in Oceanside Attack
Two alleged white supremacists and an accomplice face federal hate crime charges for attacking Marines near Oceanside Pier.
Why it matters: This case underscores persistent federal enforcement against racially motivated violence, emphasizing legal protections for military personnel and civilians alike.
- The June 7, 2025 attack targeted three men, including two U.S. Marines, near Oceanside Pier, California.
- Defendants Austin Yohe and Daniel Burns, linked to white supremacist group COORS 88, face charges including hate crimes and obstruction.
- Victims sustained serious injuries, ranging from concussions to facial fractures and required ongoing medical care.
- A third defendant, Johnny Lee Lane, pleaded guilty to three federal hate crime offenses related to the assaults.
On June 7, 2025, three men identified as white supremacists assaulted three individuals near the Oceanside Pier in California, an area known for its military presence. The first victim, T.L.W., a 21-year-old Black and Asian American man, was attacked near a beach restroom by Austin Yohe, 23, and Daniel Burns, 30, who identified themselves as 'skinheads.' T.L.W. suffered a concussion and visible head trauma, including cuts and bruises.
Shortly thereafter, the same attackers confronted two U.S. Marines: T.J., a 24-year-old Black man, and E.H., a 23-year-old white man, near the pier's plaza. E.H. sustained severe head injuries, including a concussion, orbital and sinus fractures, and a fractured cheekbone. T.J. sustained multiple head contusions and a hand injury requiring physical therapy.
Federal authorities unsealed an indictment on September 30, 2026, charging Yohe and Burns with hate crimes and obstruction of justice. The obstruction charges stem from allegations that the defendants lied to law enforcement and court officials about their involvement in the attacks. A third defendant, Johnny Lee Lane from Riverside, California, pleaded guilty to three federal hate crime offenses related to the assaults.
The indictment states that Yohe and Burns are members of COORS 88, a white supremacist group. Burns notably has a 'skinhead' tattoo on his arm, underscoring the defendants’ extremist affiliations. The maximum penalties for hate crimes include up to 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000, while obstruction charges carry up to 20 years in prison.
This case highlights the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting racially motivated violence, especially assaults involving military personnel. Such legal actions affirm the rule of law and aim to deter hate crimes in public and military-adjacent spaces.
More information is available from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.
By the numbers:
- June 7, 2025 — Date of the white supremacist attacks near Oceanside Pier
- September 30, 2026 — Date federal indictment was unsealed
- 10 years — Maximum prison sentence for hate crime charges
- 20 years — Maximum prison sentence for obstruction of justice charges