WASHINGTON—A Missouri woman was
sentenced today to 63 months in prison for her role in the vandalism and arson
of a biracial man’s home in Independence, Missouri, the Department of Justice
announced.
Teresa Witthar, 43, of Independence, was
sentenced in the Western District of Missouri by U.S. District Judge Dean
Whipple.
On February 2, 2012, Witthar pleaded
guilty to one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the Fair Housing Act,
and one count of obstruction of justice. Witthar’s co-conspirators, Charles
Wilhelm and David Martin, pleaded guilty on March 8, 2012, and March 7, 2012,
respectively, to one count of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of the
victim and one count of violating the Fair Housing Act for their roles in
vandalizing and burning down Nathaniel Reed’s home in Independence.
According to the plea agreement filed
with the court, Witthar, Wilhelm, and Martin conspired to intimidate and scare
Reed, a biracial man, into moving out of the Highland Manor Mobile Home Park in
Independence, in part because of his race. On or about June 6, 2006, Witthar,
along with Wilhelm and Martin, entered Reed’s mobile home, without his
permission, and vandalized it by writing at least 15 racially derogatory slurs
on the walls of his trailer.
Two days later, on or about June 8,
2006, Witthar drove Martin and Wilhelm to a neighborhood behind Reed’s home so
that they could set fire to his home without being detected. Witthar waited in
her vehicle for Wilhelm and Martin to set the fire and then provided them a
ride back to the Highland Manor Mobile Home Park.
The investigation further revealed that
in spring 2011, Witthar unsuccessfully attempted to persuade another individual
to testify falsely in front of a grand jury about her role in the vandalism and
fire.
“Violent and destructive acts such as
the arson of this man’s home seek to undermine the guarantees of equal justice
and equal opportunity that are central to our laws,” said Thomas E. Perez,
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of
Justice will continue to act aggressively to ensure that every American enjoys
the right to occupy a home free of racially motivated intimidation and
violence.”
“Today’s tough sentence makes it clear
that our community will not tolerate racially motivated violence and
intimidation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri
David M. Ketchmark. “We are satisfied that this defendant is being held
accountable for the arson, vandalism, and threats that violated Mr. Reed’s
civil rights. By defending one victim’s right to live freely in his own home,
we are upholding Constitutional freedoms for all citizens.”
Sentencing for Wilhelm is scheduled for
July 24, 2012. Sentencing for Martin is scheduled for July 26, 2012.
These guilty pleas were the result of a
cooperative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District
of Missouri and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. This case was
investigated by the Kansas City Division of the FBI. It is being prosecuted by
Acting U.S. Attorney David Ketchmark for the Western District of Missouri and
Trial Attorney Sheldon L. Beer of the Civil Rights Division.
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