Shiloh Hendrix found guilty of disorderly conduct after viral racial slur outburst at Rochester playground

An Olmsted County jury found Shiloh Hendrix guilty of one count of disorderly conduct following a viral incident where she used a racial slur to describe a child with autism. The 37-year-old former Rochester resident was convicted after a video showed her repeatedly targeting an 8-year-old Somali boy who had taken an applesauce pouch from her diaper bag. The jury delivered a split verdict, finding Hendrix guilty of disorderly conduct regarding the man who recorded the incident, but not guilty of disorderly conduct involving the child. Hendrix received a sentence of supervised probation, 200 hours of community service, and a $1,000 fine, with a 90-day jail sentence stayed pending her compliance. Defense attorney Brian Karalus expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, calling the trial a "circus" and announcing his intent to appeal. While the Rochester NAACP raised over $300,000 for the child's family, Hendrix successfully raised more than $800,000 through her own crowdfunding campaign. The city of Rochester acknowledged the incident's impact on the community and expressed commitment to fostering local unity.

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