Newport man accused of murdering Blaze Bernstein denies hate crime

Samuel Woodward talks to his attorney, Edward Munoz, on Wednesday at Orange County Superior Court’s Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. Samuel Woodward, the Newport Beach man charged with murder in the stabbing death of former high school classmate Blaze Bernstein, denied a sentencing enhancement allegation of a hate crime during a brief appearance Wednesday morning in Orange County Superior Court. The allegation was added to the murder charge this month, with Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas saying prosecutors believe Woodward killed Bernstein, 19, because Bernstein was gay. Munoz added that “there’s going to be some evidence that comes out to say he’s very confused” about both his sexual identity and “his own identity.” According to a report published in January by nonprofit news organization ProPublica, three people who knew Woodward said he was part of Atomwaffen Division, an armed fascist organization that seeks to overthrow the U.S. government using terrorism and guerrilla tactics.