Missouri man gets jail for race-related assault of Hy-Vee server

MARYVILLE, Mo. – A white northwest Missouri man was sentenced to 75 days in jail for grabbing a black woman and saying he wanted to show her to “where I hung your grandpa.”

Tommy Dean Gaa, 66, of Maryville, was sentenced Friday for third-degree assault motivated by discrimination. He was also placed on five years of supervised probation. He could face up to three years in jail if he violates probation.

Prosecutors say Gaa grabbed the woman’s arm hard enough to causing bruising while eating breakfast at a Maryville Hy-Vee in October.

According to court records, Gaa grabbed the arm of a Hy-Vee employee in the grocery store’s dining area.

The employee, who was not identified, asked Gaa if he wanted white or wheat toast, and Gaa said, “I’m prejudiced. I’ll take white.”

Moments later, according to court records, Gaa approached the worker and grabbed her arm, causing bruising, and asked her if she “liked to party.”

Records further show that Gaa told the woman, “I have a place I would like to take you where I hung your grandpa.”

The Maryville Daily Forum reports the assault charge would normally have been a misdemeanor but was elevated to a felony under Missouri’s hate crimes statute.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 1:28 PM with the headline "Missouri man gets jail for race-related assault of Hy-Vee server."