Kent man pleads not guilty to assault, hate crime against Hispanic man

A 42-year-old Kent man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of second-degree assault and malicious harassment after he allegedly punched and yelled racial slurs at a Hispanic man during a Sept. 22 fight outside of a Kent restaurant.

Kurt Randall Madsen entered the plea at his arraignment at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Madsen remains in custody at the county jail in Kent with bail set at $250,000.

Madsen is scheduled to return to court Oct. 25 when a trial date could be set or attorneys from either side could ask for more time to prepare the case.

Kent Police arrested Madsen for investigation of second-degree assault and malicious harassment (the charge for a hate crime) after responding to reports of a fight at about 12:37 a.m. Sept. 22 outside of the Applebee's restaurant, 25442 104th Ave. S.E., on the East Hill, according to charging papers.

A witness, who works at the restaurant, told police that the man had reportedly gotten into an argument with Madsen outside of the restaurant and that Madsen called the man a "wetback" and an "illegal," according to charging papers.

The altercation turned physical in the restaurant parking lot when Madsen allegedly confronted the man about being an "illegal immigrant" and struck him in the face with a closed fist. Madsen continued to strike the man in the face after he had fallen to the ground.

Paramedics transported the man to Valley Medical Center in Renton, where the man left the hospital before he received treatment.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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