Hate Crime Indictment at Bastrop School

A federal grand jury has indicted Christopher Shane Montgomery, a resident of Bastrop, La., for conspiring to commit a hate crime, tampering with a witness and lying to federal authorities, announced the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.

On November 6, 2007, Montgomery and another person allegedly tied a noose around the neck of a dead raccoon and hung the raccoon and noose from a flagpole at Beekman Junior High School in Bastrop. The incident was intended to intimidate African-American students attending the school under a court-ordered busing policy.

The indictment alleges that Montgomery lied to an FBI agent on two occasions while the agent was investigating the hate crime. Montgomery is also accused of tampering with a witness during the investigation.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and will be prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kevonne Small of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick of the Western District of Louisiana.

Montgomery faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the charges. An indictment is only an accusation, and Montgomery is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The incident at Beekman Junior High School highlights the serious consequences of hate crimes and the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals. The case will be closely watched as it moves forward through the court system.

As the community of Bastrop works to come to terms with the incident, it is clear that the actions of one individual can have far-reaching consequences. The case serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and education in the fight against hate crimes.

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