Filipino family questions justice after 90-day sentence in Las Vegas hate crime

Victim’s family says light jail term for brutal garage attack sends troubling message about equality

Two years after a vicious attack that left him bloodied in his own garage, 77-year-old Amadeo Quindara can still point to the dried blood stains that serve as a permanent reminder of the hate crime that nearly claimed his life.

On Monday, Clark County District Court Judge Jennifer Schwartz sentenced Christian Lentz to just 90 days in jail for the May 2023 attack that prosecutors said specifically targeted Quindara because he is Filipino. The sentence has left the victim’s family questioning whether justice was truly served.

“We keep on thinking if maybe we weren’t Asian, maybe this would have been a different sentence,” said Philip Quindara, Amadeo’s son. “We keep on hearing that we’re not treated fairly. We’re not treated as equals. This is a moment that kind of backs that up.”

The brutal attack

The incident occurred on May 30, 2023, at the Quindara family home in the Mountains Edge neighborhood of southwest Las Vegas. Court documents reveal that the attack followed a confrontation the previous day when Lentz, then 44, told Amadeo and his wife Leonida to “speak English” after hearing them conversing in Tagalog with Filipino neighbors.

According to testimony, Lentz approached Quindara in his garage and told him he “should be on a ventilator.” About 30 minutes later, Lentz returned and launched a brutal assault, punching the elderly man multiple times in the face and slamming him to the ground, opening a gash in the back of his head.

Surveillance footage captured Lentz exiting the garage with blood on his hand while repeatedly yelling “die, die, die.”

Leonida Quindara discovered her husband lying in a pool of blood when she heard moaning from the garage. The attack left Amadeo with a head laceration, black eye, brain hematoma, and lasting memory issues. Family members say he has never fully recovered emotionally.

A controversial sentence

Judge Schwartz’s sentence of 90 days in jail, followed by five years of probation, fell far short of what the family considered appropriate for the severity of the crime. Lentz could face 12 to 30 years in prison if he violates his probation terms.

“To steal a line from another organization, there is no place for hate here in Nevada, specifically in Clark County,” Judge Schwartz said during sentencing. “And there is no way that anyone can erase the pain or the suffering that Mr. Quindara or his family suffered.”

The judge noted that Lentz had pleaded guilty but mentally ill to residential burglary motivated by bias or hatred and abuse of an older person with death or substantial harm motivated by bias or hatred. She emphasized that Lentz had stayed out of trouble and attended therapy since being released from custody in 2023.

“This is a crossroads between mental health and justice,” Schwartz said. “This is your only chance.”

Family’s disappointment

The Quindara family had hoped for a four-year prison sentence, making the 90-day term particularly difficult to accept.

“He’ll be out in November, out before Christmas,” Philip Quindara said with frustration. “He’s going to get probation, fine, but 90 days, the outrage is immense at this point.”

Standing in the garage where the attack occurred, Amadeo questioned whether the justice system would have treated the case differently if the roles were reversed.

“What would have happened if I was the one that went in his house?” Amadeo asked. “Would I hear the same thing? Would I get the same three months if I did the same thing to him? I go in that place because I get in there, I don’t know. Maybe not, right?”

Community support

Throughout the two-year legal battle, the Quindara family has drawn strength from the Filipino community and advocacy organizations. Minddie Lloyd, co-founder and chair of Bamboo Bridges, a nonprofit that helps Asian Pacific American families affected by violence and trafficking, has been particularly instrumental.

“Mindy is the number one who come here and is our backbone,” Leonida Quindara said. “It’s our first time to go to the court, and we don’t know nothing. She comes here to support us.”

The case sparked significant community action, including a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in June 2023 that drew more than 200 supporters to the steps of the Regional Justice Center. The rally was organized by SEIU Nevada, Asian Community Development Council, and Bamboo Bridges.

Mixed reactions

While the family expressed disappointment, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson called it “a difficult case for many reasons,” adding he was “happy the family got some relief and some justice.”

Defense attorney Mandy McKellar argued that her client needed psychiatric care rather than incarceration. “Instead of receiving sustained psychiatric care, Mr. Lentz—a man who has clearly been ill—is now in jail,” she said. “It’s a deeply unfortunate outcome and reflects a broader failure in how this country handles mental health issues.”

McKellar had previously stated that Lentz was “acutely psychotic” during the assault and could not remember committing it.

Lasting impact

The attack has fundamentally changed the Quindara family’s sense of security. Leonida said they rarely spend time in the garage anymore, and Amadeo no longer feels safe leaving his home.

“My dad is not the same person he was before. He was once an active, joyful, and engaged man,” Philip Quindara said at an earlier hearing. “He no longer leaves the house without fear. He no longer enjoys the simple activities that brought him so much joy, and we as a family no longer feel safe.”

Despite the disappointment with the sentence, Philip Quindara found some satisfaction in seeing Lentz taken into custody. “After 797 days, more than two years since Christian Lentz brutally and cowardly attacked my father, Amadeo Quindara, justice has taken its course,” he told reporters after the sentencing.

Continuing the fight

The case has become a rallying point for discussions about hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. According to FBI data, anti-Asian hate crimes jumped 77% from 2019 to 2021, rising from 216 reported incidents to 341.

For the Quindara family, the light sentence has reinforced their determination to continue advocating for hate crime victims.

“We have to continue to fight,” Philip said. “This is kind of stirring up more emotions. This is not going to go away, but now we have to live with the fact that 90 days is in our heads now.”

The case highlights ongoing concerns about disparities in the justice system and whether hate crime enhancements provide adequate protection for vulnerable communities. As the Quindara family continues to grapple with the aftermath of the attack and what they see as an inadequate sentence, their story serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of hate crimes on victims and their families.

Image Sources: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/las-vegas-filipino-family-reacts-061837749.html

Category: Local News
Subcategory: Crime & Safety
Date: 08/05/2025