Florida man spits on 67-year-old wearing MAGA hat, tells him to 'go back to Russia', sentenced to 90 days
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA: A 43-year-old man from Florida was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Thursday, January 9 for spitting on a man wearing President Donald Trump's signature Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat.
The man, identified as Matthias Ajple, was found guilty of battery against 67-year-old Robert Youngblood, according to sentencing documents. Ajple reportedly gave a no-contest plea in court.
The incident occurred on October 25, 2019 when Indian River County Sheriff's Office was called to a restaurant in the city of Vero Beach, Newsweek reported.
Youngblood told authorities that he was wearing a MAGA hat and was sitting at the bar of Hurricane Grill on 943 15th Place with two friends when Ajple walked over and told him to "go back to Russia."
"You should go back to Russia, you f*cking communist," Youngblood cited Ajple as saying. He added that Ajple then hit the brill of his hat, leaned over a gate and spat on him before leaving the premises.
A video of the altercation was released by police in November where Ajple appears to place a wet paper towel on Youngblood's hat as he hits it.
Youngblood had noted the suspect's vehicle registration details, which led the authorities to track his wife. Ajple's wife claimed that although she did not witness the incident herself, but she was the one who jokingly told her husband to tell him to go back to Russia.
Ajple later issued a statement to the police, saying: "I was just trying to protect you guys because I support law enforcement. Trump supporters are communist and racist."
"I don't even care that I'm going to jail, this is actually exciting, plus I have more time on this earth than he does anyway, he probably feels so good about himself," he added while referring to Youngblood.
Ajple was subsequently sentenced to imprisonment in Indian River County Jail and has been asked to have no further contact with Yongblood and pay him $155.