Sean M. Shoffner charged with hate crime in Island County

Sean M. Shoffner, a 45-year-old man from Coupeville, has been charged with a hate crime in Island County Superior Court. The charges stem from a September 3 incident in Central Whidbey where Shoffner allegedly targeted a 24-year-old bicyclist.

According to court documents and reports from the Island County Sheriff’s Office, Shoffner accused the bicyclist of trespassing and used racial slurs before sprinting after him and shoving him off his bike. The victim sustained injuries to his hands during the fall. Shoffner, who resides in a nearby RV, reportedly directed racial and homophobic slurs at responding deputies. If convicted, Shoffner faces a potential jail sentence of three to nine months.