A Delaware woman has been sentenced following her guilty plea to a hate crime charge. Deborah Hughes, 53, from Newark, Delaware, was arrested in January after a series of racially motivated altercations. She pled guilty on April 21 to a misdemeanor hate crime charge. Hughes received a 1-year prison sentence, suspended for Intensive Probation Supervision. Additionally, she is required to avoid contact with the victim and undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations, following treatment recommendations.
Attorney General Kathy Jennings stated, “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own homes and communities, full stop. Hate speech is serious, it is a criminal offense under the law, and it can tear apart entire communities and incite violence. We are a nation of immigrants; that is what makes us great. We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are stronger, brighter and infinitely richer together. I am thankful to our DCRPT team and to the Wilmington Police for their hard work in this case.”
The incidents occurred on January 16 and 17, 2025, involving Hughes approaching her neighbors at Fox Chase development in Newark and using racial epithets. Even after a judicial order on January 16 to stop contacting the victims, she persisted and was subsequently arrested on January 17 by New Castle County Police.
This development demonstrates the legal consequences for actions motivated by racial bias and underscores the commitment of law enforcement to address hate crimes.