Racism case set for trial

COEUR d’ALENE — A three-day jury trial has been set for a Hayden man accused of yelling racial slurs at a Spokane church group.

First District Judge Scott Wayman scheduled a trial to begin Dec. 18 for Richard Sovenski, who along with his son allegedly harassed a youth leader and about a dozen teens from a church group at a Coeur d’Alene McDonald’s.

Sovenski, who was indicted based on witness reports, has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge and to felony malicious harassment stemming from the July 12 incident.

Wayman joined both counts into one case, although the charges were filed separately.

Quezacoatl Ceniceros, the youth leader who accused Sovenski, said the Hayden man pushed him to the ground and punched him outside the restaurant along U.S. 95 and Hanley Avenue.

Ceniceros said Sovenski and another man — Sovenski’s son, Bryce — yelled slurs including “nigger,” “fags,” and “halfbreeds” before leaving the area.

Sovenski’s wife, Colleen, had a different version of the events. She told police she was in the McDonald’s trying to order food among the rowdy teens and worried that one of the teens would run into her, hurting her shoulder and her arm, which was in a sling after a recent surgery. Her husband told the youths to settle down before Sovenski and Ceniceros began arguing, she said.

Police attempted to contact Sovenski after the incident, but he would not answer his phone. He was indicted and arrested five days later.

Sovenski admitted yelling slurs at the group, according to a police report, and he told detectives that members of the group had spit ice cream all over his car.

Malicious harassment is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.