HOLLIDAYSBURG — The city man who threw hot coffee on a Black man while threatening to shoot and stab him was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to about five months to two years in the Blair County Prison.

Richard D. Hofer Sr., 65, was charged with felony ethnic intimidation, five misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, two misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats and single misdemeanor counts of fleeing a police officer, simple assault and harassment, as well as a summary count of harassment following the incident. He has been incarcerated at the Blair County Prison since his arrest on June 30.

Hofer appeared alongside defense attorney Kristen Anastasi for a plea hearing in front of Judge David B. Consiglio.

During the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mays told Consiglio that the DA’s Office was willing to extend this offer to Hofer because the time Hofer has served has already exceeded what he would be sentenced to if convicted by a jury.

Hofer offered no comments before his sentencing and no victim impact statements were made. He ultimately pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, two misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats and single felony counts of fleeing police, simple assault and harassment.

In exchange for Hofer’s plea, Consiglio sentenced him to five months to 23.5 months in the Blair County Prison, to be followed by three years’ probation. As his credit for time served exceeded the minimum five months, he was subject to immediate parole.

Hofer was also ordered to pay $900 in fines, complete an anger management course, undergo mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and have no contact with the victim. All other charges against Hofer were withdrawn and dismissed.

Consiglio stipulated that Hofer must be fitted with an electronic prior to his release. Mays then clarified that Hofer would not be under house arrest, his location would just be monitored.

The charges were brought against Hofer after Logan Township police were dispatched to the Logan Valley Mall bus stop near JCPenney for a report of a disturbance, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The caller told officers he was outside KFC when he heard an older male, later identified as Hofer, call a Black male, the victim, a “n*****” at least five times. The caller reported hearing Hofer tell the victim “if you’re here when I come back, I’ll kill you. I’ll f***ing shoot you,” the police report states.

The victim told officers he is unhoused and Hofer approached him several weeks ago and offered him a job. Hofer paid for him to stay at a motel and after several days, the victim became upset with Hofer for not telling him what the job was and left. Officers noted having information that Hofer was paying for the victim to stay at the motel, court documents state.

The victim told officers he was asleep on the bus stop bench when Hofer threw hot coffee on his chest and called him racial slurs. Hofer also threatened to “whoop his a**” while holding a weapon, “possibly a stick,” the report states.

Officers took Hofer into custody and informed him it was reported he threatened to shoot the victim. Hofer said he didn’t have a gun and that he had threatened to stab the victim in the eyes. Hofer also allegedly admitted to throwing hot coffee on the victim and using racial slurs, but later said he was “just bluffing” when he threatened to stab the victim, according to the affidavit.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.