Arkansas Men Charged with Federal Hate Crime Related to the Assault of Five Hispanic Men

[sinkingfeeling]

http://criminal-justice-online-courses.blogspot.com/2011/04/arkansas-men-charged-with-federal-hate.html

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today the arrest of Sean Popejoy, 19, and Frankie Maybee, 20, both of Green Forest, Ark., on charges related to a racially-motivated assault on five Hispanic men. A federal grand jury in the Western District of Arkansas returned an indictment on April 5, 2011, charging Popejoy and Maybee with federal hate crime charges and conspiracy to commit a federal hate crime.


According to the indictment, Popejoy and Maybee have been charged with one count of conspiracy and five counts of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was enacted in October 2009. Specifically, the indictment alleges that on June 20, 2010, the defendants yelled anti-Latino epithets at the victims while at a gas station parking lot. When the victims drove away, the defendants chased after them in the defendants’ truck. The defendants eventually caught up to the victims’ car and repeatedly rammed their truck into the victims’ car, causing the victims’ car to go off the road, overturn and ignite. All five of the victims were physically injured as a result of the defendants’ actions.


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According to the local paper, which doesn't have free online services, this is only the 2nd. case to be prosecuted under the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Act.