A Plainfield man is facing felony hate crime charges after prosecutors say he pushed a 9-year-old boy, called him a racial slur, and threw his bicycle during an incident in Naperville, according to WGN News.
Jeffrey Feigenbaum, 29, has been charged with two felony counts of hate crime, one misdemeanor count of battery, and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege the incident occurred Saturday in the 1400 block of West Jefferson Avenue. Authorities said a group of children, including the 9-year-old victim, had been building a fort when a girl damaged it. The boy later went to the girl’s home and knocked on the door.
According to prosecutors, Feigenbaum, who is the boyfriend of the girl’s mother, answered the door and confronted the child. Authorities allege Feigenbaum pushed the boy, called him the N-word, and threw the child’s bicycle as he ran away from the residence.
Naperville police responded to reports of the incident and subsequently arrested Feigenbaum. The case has generated outrage within the community and renewed discussions about hate-motivated incidents involving children.
During a court appearance, a judge ordered Feigenbaum to have no contact with the victim. He must remain at least 5,000 feet away from the child, the child’s home, and school. The court also ordered him to surrender any firearms, ammunition, or other weapons in his possession to the Naperville Police Department.
DuPage County prosecutors described the allegations as deeply troubling and emphasized the seriousness of hate crime offenses. If convicted, Feigenbaum could face significant penalties under Illinois law.
The investigation remains ongoing. Community members and advocates have continued to call for accountability while expressing support for the young victim and his family following the alleged incident.
