The Columbia man accused of a hate crime targeted at his Black neighbor appeared in Federal court Thursday to change his plea to guilty. Jonathan Felkel, 34, was indicted last December with violating the housing rights of his Black neighbor, Jarvis McKenzie.
According to court documents, Felkel fired his gun and made threatening comments toward McKenzie during an early morning in July 2025 while Felkel was driving into the gated community where they both lived.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says Felkel was brought to justice.
"I think today is starting some closure for our victim. Just imagine that you're going to work, and you get yelled at and called a derogatory word and get shot. I think you heard in court today, though, that wasn't what this charge was all about -- the fact that he called him a boy. It was the statements he gave to us later when we interviewed him where he admitted that the only reason why he did what he did -- intimidate him and shot in the air -- was because based on his race that he was black. That's disturbing that we still have people like that in our community."
Felkel has not yet received his sentence. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up-to $250,000 and an unspecified court-ordered supervision upon his release.