Second man from Klan rally found guilty of assaulting child
Posted: 2/1/02
by Erin Johnson
Staff Writer
A jury found Jarod Lee Sparks, of Inver Grove Heights, guilty of bias motivated harassment, harassment of a child and bias motivated assault after attacking a 4-year-old minority child in August 2001.
According to the Dakota County Attorneyís Office, Sparks, 25, and Michael Pigg met at the Ku Klux Klan rally held at the state Capitol Aug. 25. After the rally, the two men were seen pushing the 4-year-old Inver Grove Heights boy off of his bike and using racial slurs. Sparks was also observed holding the boy a foot off the ground and using racial epithets. The Dakota County Attorneyís Office said both men had been drinking.
Pigg pled guilty in November and was sentenced to 135 days in jail and 90 days of electronic home monitoring.
The jury deliberated for about three hours before finding Sparks guilty of two felonies and a misdemeanor.
Sparks is engaged to the boyís mother and they were living together at the time of the incident, said Monica Jensen of the Dakota County Attorneyís Office.
Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said that hate and bias-motivated crimes are extremely serious and have a great impact on the community.
ìI am pleased that Mr. Sparks has also been brought to justice for this serious offense against an innocent little boy,î Backstrom said. ìI hope he is ready to accept the consequences of his hate and bias-related conduct.î
Sparks is scheduled to be sentenced March 26 at 8:30 a.m.
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