Dale Klein: Only 10 Days in Jail for Hate Crime on Robert Cantu

by Tina Kells | June 18, 2009 at 05:30 pm

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Dale Klein, 18, was sentenced to a mere 10 days in jail for his role in a shocking hate crime against another teen, Robert Cantu, also 18. The seemingly light sentence has prompted the family of victim Robert Cantu to consider suing the city of Mount Vernon, Ohio.

In the shocking May 2008 hate crime Robert Cantu was randomly attacked by a group of teens including Dale Klein. A noose was thrown around Cantu's neck and the other end was tied to a truck. Robert Cantu was dragged several feet in a parking lot while the group yelled racial slurs.

The group of four violence hungry teens then threatened to hang Robert Cantu. Cantu was only saved when a bystander, Ezzy Thompson, intervened. Ezzy Thompson and Robert Cantu were acquainted prior to the incident; they had known one another for 8 years.

The other three young men involved in the attempted lynching of Robert Cantu have yet to be charged in the case. Charges against Dale Klein were only announced after the Anti Discrimination League (ADL) became involved.

According to Cantu the incident occurred on or about May 30, 2008. Cantu said he was with a friend when Klein and three others jumped him, and tied a rope with a noose around his neck. The other end of the rope was tied to a truck and Cantu said he was dragged for several feet. After stopping the truck, the attackers, allegedly including Klein, exited the truck and began to attack Cantu. According to Cantu, a passer-by, Ezzy Thompson, who was known to Cantu, intervened, chasing off the attackers and removing the noose from Cantu’s neck.

“[Thompson] was with his girlfriend,” said Cantu. “He saw me on the ground and ran over and pushed the guys off me. He got the noose off me. I’ve known Ezzy for about eight years. He was just in the area.”

Cantu’s mother, Marcie Cantu, said it took local police much too long to take action on the incident.

“They never made any arrests,” Marcie said. “They never contacted me back. It took 10 months [to charge Klein]. And only after the ADL’s prompt.”