Incident details
- Updated on
- Date of incident
- September 4, 2025
- Location
- Chico, California
- Targets
- Nathan Espindula (KNVN)
- Equipment damaged
- Actor
- Private individual
Equipment Damage
Nathan Espindula, seen above in a standup shot, said his news camera was damaged by a man who harassed him with racial slurs while he was reporting in Chico, California, on Sept. 4, 2025.
Man sentenced for felony hate crime after damaging California reporter’s camera
The man who harassed KNVN reporter Nathan Espindula with racial slurs and damaged the TV journalist’s news camera while he was reporting in Chico, California, was sentenced on Dec. 18, 2025, to jail time and probation, according to the Butte County District Attorney.
The district attorney’s office announced in a press release that Kiano Sen Saechao had been sentenced to two years of probation, including anger management classes and community service, and 212 days in jail, with 106 days already served.
Saechao was also ordered to pay $2,200 in restitution to Espindula for damage to his camera.
In September, Espindula had just finished recording an early morning live segment when Saechao approached him, shouting racist insults. Espindula got into his car and locked it, leaving his camera outside.
The district attorney later said, in a description of the incident, that when Espindula tried to drive away, he inadvertently ran over a scooter Saechao had placed under his car. “This further enraged Saechao, who then walked over to Espindula’s video camera and knocked it off its tripod, causing extensive damage to the camera’s electronics,” according to the DA.
Saechao was charged with a felony civil rights violation for the property damage, which is classified as a hate crime. He initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea to no contest on Nov. 20.
KNVN reporter Nathan Espindula’s news camera was damaged when a man harassed him with racial slurs while he was reporting in Chico, California, on Sept. 4, 2025, the television station reported.
Espindula had just finished a live segment around 6 a.m. when a man approached, threatening him and shouting racist terms for a Hispanic individual.
“I started hearing someone yelling slurs at me, and as soon as I noticed that, I ran into the car and locked the car,” Espindula told KNVN. “And then the individual approached me, yelling and going across the car.”
Espindula said the man threatened to find out where he lives and continued shouting racist and profane insults, which Espindula recorded on his phone. His camera equipment was damaged during the incident.
Espindula did not respond to a U.S. Press Freedom Tracker request for comment. But as a fellow reporter noted on the station’s account of the incident, “What began as a routine live report on a community event turned into a frightening confrontation for one of our colleagues.”
The suspect, identified as Kiano Sen Saechao, has pleaded not guilty to a felony civil rights violation for the property damage, which is classified as a hate crime, according to Butte County court records.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 25.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
