A York County couple faces ethnic intimidation charges after allegedly assaulting a woman at a fraternal club in Hanover, Pennsylvania, while making racially charged statements including that "Hanover is a MAGA town."
Richard Mitchell Jr., 62, of Hanover, and Sara Tresnak, 51, of York, were each charged with misdemeanor ethnic intimidation along with summary offenses of disorderly conduct and harassment following the January 10 incident at the Hanover Eagles club.
According to charging documents filed by Penn Township Police, the confrontation began when Mitchell and Tresnak approached the victim and questioned her about her ethnicity and where she was from. When the woman, who is non-white, replied that she was from Baltimore and shared her mixed heritage, Mitchell allegedly told her that "Hanover is a redneck town" and that "she wasn't going to make it here."
Police reports indicate that as the woman attempted to walk away from the escalating argument, Tresnak grabbed her arm while Mitchell allegedly grabbed her neck and forced her to the ground. Witnesses told police that during the assault, the couple was heard using racial slurs, telling the victim to "go back to pig town," and declaring that "Hanover is a MAGA town," referencing President Donald Trump's political slogan.
The victim sustained multiple bruises, scrapes, and abrasions consistent with her account of the assault, which continued until bystanders intervened to break up the fight.
When interviewed by investigators two days after the incident, Mitchell and Tresnak admitted to being involved in the altercation but claimed the victim attacked them first, according to police.
The charges were filed on January 14, with the ethnic intimidation charges intended to cover the assault allegations. Both defendants are scheduled to appear before District Judge Jeffrey Sneeringer for a preliminary hearing on February 17, according to court records.