Man sentenced for Colorado Springs cross burning hoax

Derrick Bernard claimed the stunt was meant to help elect the city's first Black mayor

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A 36-year-old man named Derrick Bernard was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison on Wednesday for his role in staging a cross burning in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Bernard claimed the incident was intended to help elect the city's first Black mayor, though authorities say the act was a hoax and a hate crime.

Why it matters

Cross burnings are a notorious symbol of racism and white supremacy in the United States, so staging such an act as a political stunt is highly controversial and raises concerns about the use of hate crimes for political gain, even if the intent was to support a Black candidate.

The details

According to court documents, Bernard and an unidentified accomplice set fire to a cross in a residential neighborhood of Colorado Springs in October 2025, shortly before the mayoral election. The two men claimed the act was meant to galvanize support for the Black mayoral candidate, but police determined it was a hoax and charged Bernard with a federal hate crime.

  • On October 15, 2025, Bernard and an accomplice burned a cross in a Colorado Springs neighborhood.
  • Bernard was sentenced in federal court on April 1, 2026 to nearly 4 years in prison.

The players

Derrick Bernard

A 36-year-old man who was sentenced to nearly 4 years in federal prison for staging a cross burning in Colorado Springs that he claimed was intended to help elect the city's first Black mayor.

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What they’re saying

“Staging hate crimes to influence elections is an appalling abuse of our democratic process.”

— U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan

What’s next

The judge's sentence of nearly 4 years in prison for Bernard sends a strong message that using hate crimes for political purposes will not be tolerated.

The takeaway

This case highlights the dangers of exploiting racist symbols like cross burnings, even if the intent is to support a positive political outcome. It's a stark reminder that hate crimes cannot be justified, no matter the motivation.