A white Starbucks customer who launched a vile racist rant earlier this year in which he yelled: ‘Shut up, slave!’ and spat is now facing felony hate crime charges.
William Boucher, 24, was initially charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery for his tirade outside the Loop Starbucks in Chicago in June.
His shocking behavior was filmed by by-standers including an ABC photographer and went viral.
The Cook County State’s Attorney has now upgraded the charges to four counts of aggravated battery in a public place and four hate crimes.
He posted 10 percent of his $50,000 bail when the fresh charges were brought in August. He will return to court on October 23.
If convicted of all counts, he faces up a sentence of more than 30 years in jail – a maximum of five years per aggravated battery charge and three years per hate crime.
William Boucher, 24, now faces nine felony charges for lashing out outside a Starbucks in Loop, Chicago, in June (right). He will return to court on October 23
On June 6, Boucher lashed out after having a drink spilled on his pale suit inside the coffee store.
He screamed and yelled inside before taking his tantrum on to the sidewalk where he screamed profanities at a black man.
‘Shut up, slave. Do not talk to me,’ he said before calling the man ‘vermin’ and telling him to ‘walk on all fours’.
‘Get on all fours right now! Get on all fours! Don’t walk away on two legs!’ he screamed as another man held him back.
He also spat at the black man’s feet.
As he walked away, a second, unidentified man who is believed to have been homeless was filmed approaching him.
Boucher yelled ‘shut up, slave!’ at a black man (left), told him to ‘walk on all fours’ and spat at him during the outburst on June 6. He became irate after having a drink spilled on his pale suit inside the Starbucks
He continued hurling abuse at the man and then punched another, seen above standing beside him in a red jacket
By-standers wrestled Boucher to the ground (main) while others comforted the injured man (left) before police arrived
Boucher punched him forcefully, sending him flying to the ground with a single hit.
The by-standers he’d earlier been arguing with then tackled him to the ground and held him there until police arrived.
At the time, Starbucks stood behind the people who put a stop to his vile behavior.
‘We have absolutely no tolerance for this type of behavior in our stores, and are grateful to the partners (employees) and customers who stepped in to help until officers arrived,’ the company said in a statement.
Boucher describes himself as an ‘entrepreneur and socialist’ on social media.
Boucher, who describes himself as an ‘entrepreneur and socialist’ will return to court next month after posting 10 percent of his $50,000 bail