Penn State Student To Stand Trial On Ethnic Intimidation Charge

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - A Penn State student has been ordered to stand trial on a refiled a charge of ethnic intimidation for allegedly harassing an Indian student.

Campus police say 19-year-old Nicholas Tavella, of Greensburg, was drunk when he began following the other student in December, asking whether the victim planned to rape someone. Police say Tavella told them he was "racially profiling" the other student because of his skin color.

A district judge last year ordered Tavella to trial on other charges, including harassment and public drunkenness, but dismissed the ethnic intimidation charge.

It was refiled, prompting Wednesday's hearing before a different judge at which Tavella was ordered to stand trial on that count, too.

Tavella's previous attorney says his client was motivated by "drunken stupidity" not hate. His current attorney declined comment Thursday.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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