Columbia man agrees to plead guilty to hate crime

Jonathan Felkel was arrested by RCSD in connection with a hate crime. (Photo: Richland County Sheriff’s Department)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– A Columbia man has agreed to plead guilty to violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, says the DOJ.

According to court documents, on July 17, 2025, Jonathan Andrew Felkel was driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived when he saw J.M. standing at the gate of the community.

Court documents also say, Felkel fired a gun and shouted, “You better keep running, boy!” at J.M.

Felkel agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge which criminalizes the use of force or threatened force to injure, intimidate, or interfere with someone’s housing rights based on race.

He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment.