Teen accused of lighting bus rider on fire is charged with hate crime

A 16-year-old accused of intentionally setting fire to a sleeping teenager on an Oakland bus was charged Thursday with a hate crime.

Richard Thomas also faces charges of aggravated mayhem and felony assault in connection to the Nov. 4 incident. He was arraigned Thursday by Alameda County prosecutors and is being charged as an adult.

Prosecutors allege Thomas set fire to 18-year-old Luke “Sasha” Fleischman, who had fallen asleep while riding home from school.

Fleischman, who identifies as non-gender, neither male nor female, was wearing a skirt at the time. According to a statement by an Oakland police officer who interviewed Thomas about his motives, “the suspect stated he did it because he was homophobic.”

Thomas faces life in prison with the possibility of parole in connection with the aggravated mayhem charge and eight years in prison if he is convicted of felony assault.

Fleischman, who was described by Alameda County Dist. Atty. Nancy E. O’Malley as “an entirely innocent victim,” will require “several surgeries” at St. Francis Memorial Hospital, according to an online fundraising page set up after the attack.

Hundreds of people had pledged more than $20,000 as of Thursday to help pay for Fleischman’s recovery and medical bills.

ALSO:

Teen set ablaze on Oakland bus will need several surgeries

Roommate dispute in Hollywood Hills West turns deadly, police say

Fireball — maybe a South Taurid meteor — spotted across western U.S.

Twitter: @katelinthicum

[email protected]