WINNEMUCCA — A man charged with gross misdemeanor battery under the hate-crime statutes pleaded not guilty to that charge on Monday (July 13) in 6th Judicial District Court.

Milo Casper Derijk, 21, was arrested in February on allegations he attacked another man whose mother was Jewish.

Witnesses testified at the preliminary hearing in April that Derijk was sitting at a bar making racially-charged comments, which the victim overheard and commented himself the language was inappropriate. The victim also acknowledged his mother was Jewish. The allegations are that Derijk then attacked the victim – hitting him and allegedly kicking him after he was already unconscious on the ground..

Having pleaded not guilty to the charge, Derijk will go before the jury on Aug. 17. The defendant was represented in court by Elko attorney Michael Shurtz; Chief Deputy DA Brian Williams will prosecute; Judge Michael Montero will preside.

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