BOISE, Idaho – Matthew Lehigh, a 32-year-old man from Oregon, has been handed a 37-month prison sentence following a series of aggressive acts targeting members of the LGBTQ community in Boise, Idaho. According to the U.S. Justice Department, the sentence comes after Lehigh pleaded guilty to felony charges under the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The Boise Incident
Court documents detail a harrowing encounter in October last year when Lehigh assaulted a transgender librarian and subsequently attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon against a library security guard. These violent actions extended beyond the library incident when Lehigh later accosted two women, assuming they were lesbians, with verbal threats and attempted vehicular assault.
Additional Hate Crimes Acknowledged
In a plea agreement, Lehigh also acknowledged his role in another assault where he employed anti-LGBTQ+ slurs and the act of setting fire to a pride flag displayed on the porch of a same-sex couple.
Defense and Apology
Lehigh’s defense counsel highlighted his Christian faith and belief that homosexuality is a sin as a context for his actions, further noting that his mental health issues exacerbated his behavior. Lehigh has since received treatment and expressed his remorse in court, thankful that his actions did not lead to more tragic outcomes.
Legal Proceedings and Limitations
Due to the limitations of Idaho’s malicious harassment statute, which does not extend to sexual orientation or gender identity, local law enforcement could not pursue a hate crime designation. However, federal charges prompted Boise and Ada County prosecutors to dismiss their assault charges in favor of the more serious federal case.
The Victims’ Trauma
The sentencing brought forward personal accounts from the victims, including Vegas Shegrud, who shared the profound impact on her mental health and education in the aftermath of Lehigh’s attack. Shegrud’s testimony conveyed the lasting terror from that day, a sentiment that is arguably shared by the broader community affected by these crimes.
Moving Forward
With the sentence now passed, the focus shifts to healing for the victims and the LGBTQ community in Boise, as well as ongoing discussions about the breadth of hate crime legislation in Idaho and the need for greater protections under the law.
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