Hate‑Crime Sentence for Planned Attack on Online Date

A 26‑year‑old from Eugene was given a 12‑year, seven‑month prison term after he used a tire thumper to assault a gay man he met on a dating app. The judge noted that the defendant had planned the attack for weeks and appeared to be experiencing psychosis at the time. Because of those mental health concerns, the judge chose the lower end of the sentencing range recommended by federal guidelines. The victim was not named in court filings, but he suffered a severe head injury that left part of his skull missing. He survived the assault, which was described as an attempted murder motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation. Prosecutors wanted more than 15 years, while the defense requested a little over six years. The assistant U. S. attorney called the crime “outrageous” and emphasized that such violence cannot be tolerated in society.According to the prosecutor, the attacker bought a weapon, gloves and even a short black wig, and spent time learning how to evade detection and dispose of bodies. On July 5, 2021 he invited his date to a home “to cuddle, ” then struck him repeatedly with the tire thumper and tried to gouge his eyes. He only stopped after locking the victim’s door, allowing neighbors to hear screams and alert police. The defendant’s public defender argued that he was suffering from untreated mental illness, citing an autism spectrum diagnosis and hallucinations at the time of the attack. The defendant’s parents claimed they only learned about his serious mental health issues after he was arrested, and he had told them that a “demon” instructed him to kill. The father described the motive as psychosis rather than political or rational hatred. The defender suggested a shorter sentence so that the defendant could receive ongoing medical supervision in an adult group home after release. He expressed remorse and wished the victim a full recovery, as did the defendant’s mother, who said he regretted his actions. The victim listened to the sentencing hearing over the phone but did not speak during the proceedings.