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Albuquerque Hate Crime Charges
A federal grand jury has handed down a hate crime indictment against three men in connection with the brutal assault of a 22-year-old Navajo man with a significant cognitive impairment in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Paul Beebe, 27, William Hatch, 29, and Jesse Sanford, 25, all of Farmington, New Mexico, have been charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The indictment alleges that the defendants branded the victim by heating a wire hanger on a stove and burning the victim’s flesh, causing a permanent swastika-shaped scar on his arm. The victim’s body was further defaced with white supremacist and anti-Native American symbols, including shaving a swastika in the back of the victim’s head and using marker to write the words ‘KKK’ and ‘White Power’ within the lines of the swastika.
The indictment also alleges that the defendants took advantage of the victim’s developmental disability to induce him to make a cell phone video in which he purportedly consents to the branding.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Albuquerque Division in cooperation with the Farmington Police Department and the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto D. Ortega for the District of New Mexico and Special Litigation Counsel Gerard Hogan and Trial Attorney Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The severity of the charges underscores the gravity of the alleged crimes and the need for a thorough investigation and prosecution.
The indictment highlights the ongoing struggle against hate crimes and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of hate crimes on victims and their families, and the need for continued efforts to prevent such crimes from occurring in the first place.
The investigation and prosecution of this case are a testament to the commitment of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to combating hate crimes and protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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