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Pasco Deputy: Dad Tells Son To Fight; Hate Crime Charged

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2008

HUDSON - A 48-year-old white man was arrested on charges he egged on his stepson to beat up a black boy Wednesday afternoon, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Paul Van-Riper

Deputies say Paul F. Van-Riper of 7409 Duke Drive hurled racial slurs, encouraging the boy to fight the other child.

Van-Riper stood in his backyard and told his stepson to beat up the other boy, according to the report, and at least four people heard him using the slur.

The stepson pushed the other boy, according to the report.

While a deputy drove Van-Riper to Land O' Lakes Jail, Van-Riper made spontaneous statements about the incident, including that he wanted his stepson to "get it over with," the report states.

Van-Riper told the deputy, according to the report, that his actions were motivated by his dislike of black people.

Van-Riper is being held in jail on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor as well as committing a hate crime. Bail was set at $10,000.

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