Three Idaho men have been sentenced for their roles in a 2008 hate crime assault on an African-American man outside a Wal-Mart store in Nampa, Idaho.
Michael Bullard, 23, of Middleton, Idaho, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, three years of supervised release, 80 hours of community service and a $200 special assessment.
Richard Armstrong, 24, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, three years of supervised release, 80 hours of community service and a $200 special assessment.
James Whitewater, 23, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
The men were convicted of conspiring to violate the federally-protected rights of the victim and of actually violating the victim’s protected rights by engaging in the racially-motivated assault.
The assault occurred on July 4, 2008, as the victim, a 24-year-old African-American man, walked out of the Wal-Mart store. Witnesses testified that Bullard, Armstrong and Whitewater all participated in the assault, while a fourth person, Jennifer Hartpence, held their belongings and cheered them on.
Hartpence was initially charged as a co-defendant, but her case was dismissed before it reached the jury.
Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said the sentences should send a message to others who would carry out similar acts of violence that they will be brought to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Kelly Schneider, Hate Crime Assault, Idaho 2017 · Idaho
- James Spencer Jr., Assault, Idaho 2012 · Idaho
- Brian Eugene Sczenski, Assault with Intent to Commit Robbery, Idaho 2016 · Idaho
- Coryn Lawyer, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Idaho 2016 · Idaho
- Roy James Broncheau, Strangulation, Idaho 2017 · Idaho
Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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