Posted on Nov 4, 2023
Oregon man sentenced for LGBTQ hate crimes in Idaho, including trying to hit people with car
1.21K
11
2
6
6
0
An Oregon man who pleaded guilty in connection with LGBTQ hate crimes, including trying to hit people with a car in Idaho last year, has been sentenced to just over three years in prison.
Matthew Lehigh was sentenced Thursday to 37 months followed by three years of supervised release and he must pay restitution, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Lehigh, 32, previously pleaded guilty to two felony charges of violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act as part of a plea agreement.
Last October, Lehigh punched and threatened a transgender librarian in Boise before trying to run over a library security guard with his vehicle, according to court documents.
Days later, he saw two women he “assumed, based on their appearance and dress” were lesbians, documents said. Lehigh shouted threats and slurs at them and accelerated his car toward them. The women jumped out of the way and Lehigh’s vehicle hit the car belonging to one of the women, documents said.
The Justice Department said Lehigh, as part of the agreement, also admitted responsibility for punching someone else after using an anti-LGBTQ+ slur and setting on fire a pride flag that was on a same-sex couple’s porch.
Matthew Lehigh was sentenced Thursday to 37 months followed by three years of supervised release and he must pay restitution, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Lehigh, 32, previously pleaded guilty to two felony charges of violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act as part of a plea agreement.
Last October, Lehigh punched and threatened a transgender librarian in Boise before trying to run over a library security guard with his vehicle, according to court documents.
Days later, he saw two women he “assumed, based on their appearance and dress” were lesbians, documents said. Lehigh shouted threats and slurs at them and accelerated his car toward them. The women jumped out of the way and Lehigh’s vehicle hit the car belonging to one of the women, documents said.
The Justice Department said Lehigh, as part of the agreement, also admitted responsibility for punching someone else after using an anti-LGBTQ+ slur and setting on fire a pride flag that was on a same-sex couple’s porch.
Oregon man sentenced for LGBTQ hate crimes in Idaho, including trying to hit people with car
Posted from nbcnews.com
LGBTQ+
Boise
Transgender
Gender
Violence
Posted 7 mo ago
Responses: 2
2
2
0
Anyone trying to hurt others with guns, knives, vehicles, etc belongs behind bars
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Victims give testimony at sentencing
Three victims gave testimony during the hearing. Lehigh, wearing an orange jumpsuit and with a grown beard, looked down at the court desk while victims gave their testimonies.
On Oct. 12 of last year, Vegas Shegrud said, she had just finished participating in a photoshoot with cosmetology school classmates at Kathryn Albertson Park. While walking to her car with her friend, Lehigh began screaming and threatening to kill them before driving his car at them. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Lehigh believed they were a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
“The fear I felt from that day is unparalleled by any other event in my life,” she said at the hearing. “I’ll never forget the harsh words that came out of his mouth. And as much as I definitely wasn’t the only person there, I knew he was talking directly to me. [We] tried our best to continue ignoring him.”
Shegrud’s car was a gift that she inherited from her late grandmother. After the incident, she said she could no longer enter the car without experiencing a panic attack.
To relieve the panic attacks, she purchased a new car and took a sabbatical from beauty school, all while grappling with finance and mental health issues.
After Shegrud, Schert, whose pride flag was burned while attached to his home, said that working with the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI made him and his husband feel more valued and safe living as openly-gay men in Idaho, and that he believes the conviction will deter people from attacking other marginalized communities.
Schert’s final remark was addressed to the state of Idaho.
“It is a stain on the honor of the state that we have not added the ‘four words’ to our state constitution to protect sexual orientation and gender identity from acts of malice and hatred,” he said.
After Schert, Judy Cross, who is on the board of directors of The Community Center, said she was confused that someone would destroy the window of a building that serves as a safe space to the LGBTQ+ community.
“The cost of property damage was high, but the personal costs are immeasurable not only to our church and community center, but to our young people who feared to be in our safe space and are allowed to exist,” she said.
Cross said that she and her colleagues have advocated for decades to get legislation to add the words “sexual orientation and gender identity” into Idaho code. Thursday’s conviction was a win for Idaho, she said.
In addition to the three victims who spoke at the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Horwitz said 10 other victim impact statements were provided to the court. "...
..."Victims give testimony at sentencing
Three victims gave testimony during the hearing. Lehigh, wearing an orange jumpsuit and with a grown beard, looked down at the court desk while victims gave their testimonies.
On Oct. 12 of last year, Vegas Shegrud said, she had just finished participating in a photoshoot with cosmetology school classmates at Kathryn Albertson Park. While walking to her car with her friend, Lehigh began screaming and threatening to kill them before driving his car at them. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Lehigh believed they were a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
“The fear I felt from that day is unparalleled by any other event in my life,” she said at the hearing. “I’ll never forget the harsh words that came out of his mouth. And as much as I definitely wasn’t the only person there, I knew he was talking directly to me. [We] tried our best to continue ignoring him.”
Shegrud’s car was a gift that she inherited from her late grandmother. After the incident, she said she could no longer enter the car without experiencing a panic attack.
To relieve the panic attacks, she purchased a new car and took a sabbatical from beauty school, all while grappling with finance and mental health issues.
After Shegrud, Schert, whose pride flag was burned while attached to his home, said that working with the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI made him and his husband feel more valued and safe living as openly-gay men in Idaho, and that he believes the conviction will deter people from attacking other marginalized communities.
Schert’s final remark was addressed to the state of Idaho.
“It is a stain on the honor of the state that we have not added the ‘four words’ to our state constitution to protect sexual orientation and gender identity from acts of malice and hatred,” he said.
After Schert, Judy Cross, who is on the board of directors of The Community Center, said she was confused that someone would destroy the window of a building that serves as a safe space to the LGBTQ+ community.
“The cost of property damage was high, but the personal costs are immeasurable not only to our church and community center, but to our young people who feared to be in our safe space and are allowed to exist,” she said.
Cross said that she and her colleagues have advocated for decades to get legislation to add the words “sexual orientation and gender identity” into Idaho code. Thursday’s conviction was a win for Idaho, she said.
In addition to the three victims who spoke at the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Horwitz said 10 other victim impact statements were provided to the court. "...
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google