Brothers, convicted of hate crime in Citrus Springs, FL, sentenced to 5 years in federal prison
Photo flyer courtesy of CCSO.
As the result of their actions, both men were sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of federal probation.
On the date the incident occurred, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) was contacted by a caller who told communications officers that two white males, later identified as brothers Roy and Robert Lashley, were attacking a black male victim with an ax handle.
Deputies responded to the scene and took both brothers into custody. While being detained, Roy Lashley kicked one of the deputies several times and actively resisted the efforts of deputies to place him into a patrol vehicle.
Witnesses to the attack told deputies that the brothers were both yelling racial slurs at the victim, and that Robert Lashley began to punch the victim, knocking him to the ground. According to the victim and witnesses, Roy Lashely retrieved an axe handle and joined the attack, striking the victim with it multiple times.
The victim sustained injuries to his face and legs and a laceration to the inside of his mouth.
Roy Lashley was charged with one count each of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer without violence, resisting an officer with violence, and battery of a law enforcement officer.
Robert Lashley was charged with one count of battery.
Detective Steelfox with the CCSO's Major Crimes Unit determined that the brothers had targeted the victim because of his race, and they had also used racial slurs while attacking him. As this incident appeared to be a hate crime, Detective Steelfox consulted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of the United States Attorney, and it was determined that this case would be prosecuted in federal court.
“The defendant is being held accountable for subjecting a Black man to a brutal and racially-motivated assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Convictions like these make clear that the Department of Justice will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who violently assault others because of their race. Racially-motivated hate crimes have no place in our society.”
“Acts of violence against anyone because of their race or ethnicity are abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that such crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
"Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim, these crimes threaten and intimidate entire communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks for the FBI Jacksonville Field Division. “Because of their wide-ranging impact, investigating and preventing hate crimes is a top priority for the FBI, and we will stop at nothing to protect the public from these heinous crimes.”
"No person should ever have to worry about being a target for violence because of their race, religion, or nationality," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "I am extremely pleased with the federal convictions of these two and believe that justice has been served, thanks to the aggressive prosecution of this case. Working in cooperation with our federal partners, we ensured that these criminals received the highest possible penalty for their brutal attack on an innocent individual."