James William Hill III, 34, of Chester, Virginia, was
charged today with a federal hate crime under the Matthew Shepard and James
Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for a May 2015 assault on a victim known as
C.T. in the indictment.
The indictment was announced by Principal Deputy Assistant
Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division, and U.S.
Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to the indictment, on or about May 22, 2015, Hill
did willfully cause bodily injury to C.T by assaulting C.T., including by
punching the victim, because of C.T.’s actual and perceived sexual orientation.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10
years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Richmond
Division. The case is being prosecuted
by Assistant U. S. Attorney S. David Schiller of the Eastern District of
Virginia and Trial Attorney Ryan Murguía of the Civil Rights Division’s
Criminal Section.
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