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Two Boise Men Charged Under Federal Hate Crime Law For Beating A Black Man

Samantha Wright
/
Boise State Public Radio

Two Boise men have been indicted on federal hate crime charges for allegedly assaulting an African-American man last year. U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson says the victim, known in court documents as D.L., was severely beaten in October 2013 at the Torch 2 Lounge in Boise. Authorities are not releasing the victim's name or age to protect his privacy.

Jonathan Henery, 28, and Beau Hansen, 30, both of Boise, have been charged with a hate crime. Olson says the assault was racially motivated. She says her office, the FBI, and the Boise Police Department have been partners in this case.

“Together we are committed to showing that those who would engage in hate or bias motived crimes that this conduct and that intolerance in fact has no place in our community,” Olson says.

It’s not the first hate crime in Boise, but it is the first one to be charged under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act. The act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009. It expands the previous federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It also removes the requirement that the victim be engaged in a federal protected activity like voting or going to school.

Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson says hate crimes are rare in Boise, but they are toxic to the entire community. “This is a message that is sent back to our community, not only holding these individuals accountable for their actions, but saying we will not tolerate intolerance.”

If convicted under the Shepard/Byrd Act, Henery and Hansen could face 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Both defendants are in custody. An initial court date has not yet been set.

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