Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the indictment of MARC JENSEN, 33, for assaulting an Asian couple as they waited on a sidewalk in Koreatown for an Uber to arrive. JENSEN is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and two counts of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a misdemeanor hate crime.[1]

“As alleged, Marc Jensen spewed hateful anti-Chinese remarks before physically attacking this couple as they waited to turn in after a dinner out in Manhattan,” said District Attorney Bragg. “My Office’s dedicated and specially trained hate crimes prosecutors will continue to investigate incidents of hate and bias in our communities. My thoughts are with the victims of this attack.” 

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, a husband and wife, both of whom are of Korean descent, were waiting for an Uber around 1:30 a.m. on May 23, 2023. While they were waiting, JENSEN approached them and made several anti-Chinese statements. JENSEN proceeded to yell at the wife and spit on her face before pulling her husband out of the car and assaulting him. The husband suffered bruising and a large cut to his knee, substantial pain to his elbow, and a laceration on his forehead. 

The NYPD received information from a Crimestoppers tip and after investigating the incident, arrested JENSEN two weeks later. 

Assistant D.A. Nicole Hoehle (Trial Bureau 60) is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Constantine Coritsidis (Deputy Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). The Witness Aid Services Unit is providing valuable support. 

D.A. Bragg thanked the members of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, particularly Detectives Damon Ford and John Hidalgo. 

Defendant Information: 

MARC JENSEN

Boston, Massachusetts

Charges:

• Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime, a class E felony, two counts
• Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor hate crime, two counts

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