PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A white felon was sentenced Thursday to nearly 3 years in prison for screaming racial slurs at 2 black children and threatening them with a butcher knife.
In December of 2018, Michael Amatullo screamed racial slurs at a 7-year-old black child who walked past his apartment on his way to throw out some trash in the 9200 block of Southeast Division Street.
Prosecutors said Amatullo “used the N-word over and over again.”
The child’s 15-year-old brother saw what was happening and stepped between the two. Amatullo started screaming racist slurs at the teen, according to court documents.
The teen feared for his safety and the safety of his little brother so he physically threatened Amatullo. The man went inside his apartment and came out with a butcher knife. He stood in his doorway with the knife at shoulder level in a stabbing position, about 6 feet away from the children.
The boys ran and hid under a stairwell, unharmed. The teen and Amatullo both called 911. Portland police arrived and arrested Amatullo.
He was found guilty in July of 2 counts of 2nd-degree intimidation, 2 counts of menacing and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. The 61-year-old has previous convictions, including 12 felonies, 5 misdemeanors and 15 parole violations.