Former UCF SGA Vice President Andrick Lewis, who went on to become a public defender, was a victim of a racist rant from one of his would-be clients during a recent Orlando court appearance.
According to a report by Local 6, Thomas Thorpe, 51, appeared before a judge, but refused to have Lewis represent him apparently because of his skin color.
“Do you understand what an attorney is and what they do?” the judge asked.
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“Yes, and they screwed us,” Thorpe said.
That is when Thorpe went on a racist rant about Lewis, who would have been his public defender.
“I said not guilty — I pleaded not guilty and I don’t want this negro standing next to me,” Thorpe told the judge. “I don’t want a negro standing next to me.”
According to Local 6, Thorpe was accused of stabbing a passenger as he got off of a Lynx bus in Orlando on Wednesday. He was charged with attempted first degree murder with a weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. According to Local 6, he currently sits in jail with no bond and it is not known if he will have an attorney representing him at his next court appearance.
Andrick Lewis, who handled the incident stoically, was elected the UCF SGA Vice President in 2009. He now serves as a public defender in the 9th Judicial Circuit.
