Teen gets nine months for race attack

By: LAURA MITCHELL - Staff Writer | Monday, November 3, 2003 10:51 PM PST ∞

FRENCH VALLEY ---- Former Murrieta Valley High School senior Noah Rawls was sentenced to 270 days in juvenile hall Monday for his part in a race attack on a black student at the high school in September.

During the sentencing hearing, Supervising Deputy District Attorney Brian Sussman called the actions of Rawls, who is white, "some of the most outrageous" he has seen.

Sussman said Rawls, who will be 18 in December, attacked 16- year-old Sam Farr based strictly on the fact that Farr is black. The prosecutor said Rawls brutally beat Farr and when Rawls walked away he asked "How do you like your bloody lip? Bring on all the n - - - - - - . I'll kill 'em all."

Judge H. Dennis Myers sentenced Rawls on Monday in the final hearing for four white students arrested in two attacks on black students at the high school this year.

"We're relieved. We feel like justice has been served," Farr's stepfather, Chris Goulding, said.

Rawls and Saege Hall, who is 14, were arrested for committing hate crimes and assault with deadly weapons Aug. 20 after attacking Farr. Saege Hall's 17-year-old brother, Dylan Hall, also was arrested for making racist threats.

The incident began when Dylan Hall and another black student got into an argument in the school gym. A teacher intervened and sent them both to the principal's office. A little later, Saege Hall and Rawls allegedly jumped and beat Farr, who happened to be walking nearby, police said.

The Hall brothers pleaded guilty in September. Saege was sentenced to eight months in juvenile hall and Dylan received six months' probation.

In a separate incident Sept. 5, 16-year-old Garrett Woody, who is white, attacked a 14-year-old black student who is a friend of Farr and had witnessed the attack on him. Woody was charged with felony battery and witness intimidation. He pleaded guilty to those charges Oct. 9 and enrolled in a rehabilitation program.

On Monday, Rawls was sentenced to serve more time than the other three defendants received.

Sussman said he wanted Rawls to receive 300 days in juvenile hall.

Rawls should go through what would have been his senior year of high school in juvenile hall so he learns "this is what hatred will get you," he said.

The prosecutor added that Farr will suffer the effects of the attack for the rest of his life.

Goulding said his stepson is still taking pain medicine and being fitted for a splint he must wear 24 hours a day for six months to realign his jaw after the attack.

There have been no race attacks since his son returned to school last month, he said.

Rawls' attorney, H. Charles Gorian, asked the judge for leniency, saying his client had been harassed by a group of black students at the school for 2 1/2 years.

When Dylan Hall and one of those black students were sent to the principal's office, Gorian said, Rawls thought "this group just won't give up."

Since he was arrested, Rawls has received his high school diploma and participated in a victim's impact group where he's learning about the effects of his behavior, he said.

At Monday's hearing, Rawls apologized to Sam Farr, who was not present, and his parents, Crystal Farr and Goulding.

Rawls will get credit for the 76 days he served so far in juvenile hall. According to the sentence, he must participate in personal and family counseling, anger management classes and have no contact with Dylan or Saege Hall.

Contact staff writer Laura Mitchell at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or lmitchell@californian.com.