Two Boise men have been caught up in a disturbing act of racial violence. Jonathan Lynn Henery, 28, and Beau Edward Hansen, 30, both of Boise, Idaho, were indicted May 13, 2014, on federal hate crime charges for their racially motivated assault of an African-American man.
The victim, whose name has not been released, suffered bodily injury in the attack, which allegedly took place on Oct. 20, 2013. The indictment alleges that Henery and Hansen willfully caused the injury to the man based on his actual and perceived race and color.
The charge of hate crime based on race is a violation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009. A violation of that statute is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Boise City Police Department. The case is being jointly prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The alleged hate crime took place in Boise, Idaho, a city of approximately 225,000 people. The attack has sent shockwaves through the community, with many calling for greater awareness and action to combat racial violence.
The case highlights the ongoing struggle against hate crimes in the United States. It is a stark reminder that such acts of violence are not isolated incidents, but rather symptoms of a larger problem. As this case moves forward, it is essential that the community comes together to support the victim and his family, while also working to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Defendant:
Jonathan Lynn Henery, 28
Criminal Charges:
Hate crime based on race
City and State:
Boise, Idaho
Date:
May 13, 2014 (indicted)
Crime Date:
Oct. 20, 2013
Sentence/Outcome:
Currently pending, up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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