Richland County man sentenced to 9 years in prison for hate crime
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO ) — A white Richland County man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for shooting at his Black neighbor — confessing that he did so only because of the man’s race.
Footage from July 17th 2025 –his sentencing almost one year to the day – shows Jonathan Felkel pulling up to the gate at the Spring Valley community both he and the victim — Jarvis McKenzie — lived in, and firing a gun at him, also shouting “You better run boy!”
In March 2026, Felkel pleaded guilty to the federal charge of violating the housing rights of his Black neighbor — later confessing he was “patrolling for Black criminals.”
“I think that has no place in our community, and I think all sentences should reflect stiff penalties to try to deter this,” says Attorney Tyler Bailey with the Bailey Law Firm.
On Thursday, back inside the Matthew J. Perry Courthouse, Judge Mary Geiger Lewis gave Felkel the harshest sentence available of 108 months and three years probation.
McKenzie addressed the lasting effects of the incident, saying, “Well you know I gotta keep moving on to take care of my family, I can’t just stop because of the situation that happened, but it’s always gonna play a fact in my family’s mind, my girls, because they’re young, but I gotta do what I gotta do to take care of them.”
McKenzie told Judge Lewis during the sentencing that because of Felkel’s actions, he and his family no longer feel safe in their own home. Felkel also addressed the judge saying he was sorry and wishes he could take back his actions.
However following the sentencing, one U.S. Attorney shared Felkel’s more detailed confessions, saying, “When he was investigated or interviewed by law enforcement, he made admissions that he wanted to target Black people and take them out into a field and get rid of them.”
Felkel’s defense attorney told Judge Lewis that his client had mental and audio delusions and was dependent on certain drugs.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott responded to that, saying, “A drug problem does not impact your heart, that’s where the hate is, and today, justice was served. ”
Felkel also faces pending state charges.
Though Richland and Orangeburg Counties have hate crime ordinances, South Carolina remains one of two states in the country with no official hate crime law.
“That’s supposed to be a safe place for me and my family to call home. And it’s not anymore. He took that away from us,” says McKenzie.
