by Courtney Connley

May 11, 2017

 

In a 3-2 decision Tuesday, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that anti-gay assaults are not protected under the state’s hate crime law, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

The decision emerged from the West Virginia v. Steward Butler case, which involves an April 2015 incident during which Butler allegedly, while stopped in his car at an intersection, directed anti-gay slurs at two men he saw kissing on the sidewalk, then got out of his car and struck both victims in the face with his fist, according to court documents.

On May 21, 2015, a Cabell County grand jury issued an indictment against Butler, charging him with battery and violations of an individual’s civil rights under West Virginia law. Butler challenged those indictments and the applicability of the law to his actions.

 

Full article:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/west-virginia-supreme-court-rules-anti-gay-assaults/story?id=47352792