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Montana

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 Hate Crime Statistics Case Examples News DOJ Offices 


Please click the image/link below to download a fact sheet with detailed graphics and information on hate crimes reported to the FBI for Montana in 2022.

Image of the 2022 Montana Hate Crimes Fact Sheet

Fast Facts on Montana Hate Crime Incidents*

Bias Motivation Categories by Year

Bias Motivation Category 2020 2021 2022
Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry 16 10 13
Religion 6 0 0
Sexual Orientation 3 6 2
Disability 1 0 0
Gender 0 0 0
Gender Identity 0 1 0
Total: 26 17 15

Types of Crime

Crimes Against Persons 11 68.8%
Crimes Against Property 5 31.2%
Crimes Against Society 0 0.0%

Bias Motivation Categories

Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry 13 86.7%
Religion 0 0.0%
Sexual Orientation 2 13.3%
Disability 0 0.0%
Gender 0 0.0%
Gender Identity 0 0.0%

 


*2021 was the first year that the annual hate crimes statistics were reported entirely through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).  As a result of the shift to NIBRS-only data collection, law enforcement agency participation in submitting all crime statistics, including hate crimes, fell significantly from 2020 to 2021.  


Case Examples

A Montana man has been sentenced to a year and a half in prison for making racially motivated harassing calls to a Black woman employed at a Billings church.

According to evidence, in November 2020, the man had gone to the church asking for money and the victim gave him a gift card. For almost two years, the defendant called the victim and church and left threatening voicemails stating his hatred for the victim and Black people.

The defendant made similar threatening and racially motivated calls to Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the southern US.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/man-sentenced-18-months-prison-making-racially-motivated-harassing-calls-african

A Montana man was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a series of hate-motivated attacks in Basin, Montana.

The defendant made it his mission to rid the town of Basin, Montana, of its lesbian and gay community. Armed with a rifle and other weapons, he approached the house of a woman that he knew identified as lesbian, firing several rounds into the property. The woman was home, but not hit.

Assuming the first victim was dead, the defendant approached other homes of people known locally to be gay or lesbian. He walked past a church that was letting out and was approached by several people who knew him and tried to intervene, including a pastor who was wearing a device to record his sermons. While the device was recording, the defendant admitted to the initial attack and described his intent to rid Basin of LGBTQI+ people.

He shot several more rounds at people in the vicinity before fleeing when law enforcement arrived. He was arrested the next day.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/montana-man-sentenced-federal-hate-and-firearms-crimes-shooting-intended-kill-and-rid-town

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/montana-man-convicted-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearms-charges-shooting-intended-rid

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/montana-man-indicted-federal-hate-crime-and-firearm-charges-0

 

News

February 21, 2024

U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of Montana Hosts United Against Hate Meeting in Great Falls


November 30, 2023

U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of Montana Hosts United Against Hate Meeting with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on the Flathead Indian Reservation


October 20, 2023

Montana Man Sentenced to 18 months in Prison for Making Racially-Motivated Harassing calls to African American Woman Employed at Billings Church


June 16, 2023

U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of Montana Hosts United Against Hate Meeting in Missoula


June 14, 2023

Montana Man Sentenced for Federal Hate and Firearms Crimes for Shooting Intended to Kill and Rid Town of LGBTQI+ Residents


February 17, 2023

Montana Man Convicted of Federal Hate Crimes and Firearms Charges for Shooting Intended to Rid Community of the Lesbian and Gay Members


February 17, 2023

Montana Man Convicted of Federal Hate Crimes and Firearms Charges for Shooting Intended to Rid Community of the Lesbian and Gay Members


June 30, 2021

Montana Man Arraigned on Hate Crime, Firearm Charges


June 2, 2021

Montana Man Indicted on Federal Hate Crime and Firearm Charges


July 23, 2019

U.S. Department of Justice to host Protecting Houses of Worship Training


 

DOJ Offices

FBI Field Office

FBI

 

Salt Lake City
5425 West Amelia Earhart Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

T: 801.579.1400
saltlakecity.fbi.gov


U.S. Attorney's Office

DOJ

 

Montana (Billings)
www.justice.gov/usao-mt/contact-us


CRS Regional Office

CRS

 

Rocky Mountain Regional Office
1244 Speer Boulevard
Suite 650
Denver, CO 80204

T: 303.844.2973
F: 303.844.2907
askcrs@usdoj.gov

Updated April 10, 2024