'Incel' pleads guilty to multiple hate crimes over pepper spray attacks in Costa Mesa – Orange County Register

SANTA ANA — A 27-year-old Anaheim man has pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison for committing multiple hate crimes involving the use of pepper spray on three women and a man in Costa Mesa.

Johnny Deven Young pleaded guilty to one count of assault with force likely to cause serious bodily injury and four counts of illegal use of tear gas, all felonies, as well as five hate crime charges, according to court records. He also admitted to enhanced sentences for personal use of a deadly weapon and hate crimes.

Young has been in the Orange County Jail since his arrest on September 21, 2022.

The attacks took place on November 21, 2021, April 1, 2022, and April 17, 2022.

Prosecutors say Young was previously convicted of a hate crime in Nevada.

When Young was charged, the Orange County District Attorney's Office said he was a self-proclaimed “incel,” meaning he is part of an online community of men who are involuntarily celibate and prone to misogyny because they don't see themselves as attractive to women.

Prosecutors say the male victim tried to stop one of Young's attacks after several videos of the attacks circulated on YouTube.