<p>ITHACA ?The district attorney office indicted Nathan Poffenbarger, 20, on five counts related to an incident in February where he allegedly stabbed a black male visiting Cornell University in an act that is being charged as a hate crime.</p>
<p>Poffenbarger appeared in Tompkins County Court today.</p>
<p>The counts are assault in the first degree as a hate crime, three counts of assault in the second degree as a hate crime and tampering with physical evidence. </p>
<p>In court, Judge John C. Rowley kept Poffenbarger bail at the $20,000 he paid when first arrested. Poffenbarger was represented in court by Joseph Joch, of Joch and Kirby in Ithaca.</p>
<p>Did they ever figure out what his motive was for stabbing the Union student?</p>
<p>Last I heard it was very unclear....I found it a bit concerning that it was immediately classified as a hate crime, though, at the time, it seemed like there as a personal issue between the two students and the stabbing wasn't motivated becaues the victim was black. But I haven't been following the story, so for all I know it could have been.</p>
<p>There's no justification for stabbing someone...though it still amazes me that he did it. The kid was a student got into Cornell, so he must have been at least fairly bright...kind of sad that he'd have the lapse of sanity to do something like that. Definately a pathetic way to solve anything.</p>
<p>wow, it just occured to me that my previous post was terrible English. Oh well...today was my Spanish final. My English skills are hibrinating. Que triste!</p>
<p>the stabber was a transfer from a community college in MD, and waz up with pornoprea- "By a white guy and a black guy tries to protect him...that would be some nice irony"</p>