SANTA ANA - A Caucasian man was convicted last week for attacking two Hispanic men without provocation outside of a 7-Eleven.

Chad Martin Jurjaks, 31, Costa Mesa, pleaded guilty to the court Jan. 19, 2012, to two felony counts of hate crime battery causing injury. Jurjaks is expected to be sentenced Feb. 17, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-29, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on March 5, 2011, 42-year-old John Doe, his wife, cousin, and 26-year-old nephew John Doe #2, were walking to the doors of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Costa Mesa. The victims are Hispanic. Jurjaks, who is Caucasian, was intoxicated and confronted the victims as they approached. Jurjaks then attacked the victims without provocation and yelled "F****** Mexicans!" three times as he punched John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 one time each in the head.

Jurjaks then walked away and the victims called 911. Costa Mesa Police officers arrived at the scene and arrested the defendant near the convenience store.

Hate crime laws prohibit the use or threat of force by any individual in order to intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten any other person from exercising any right secured by the U.S. Constitution or State or Federal laws based on "race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or disability."

Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.