Montana
Hate Crime Statistics Case Examples News DOJ Offices
2023 Hate Crime Statistics for Montana*
| Bias Motivation Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry | 10 | 13 | 5 |
| Religion | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sexual Orientation | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Disability | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gender | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gender Identity | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 17 | 15 | 11 |
| Type of Crime | Incidents | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Crimes Against Persons | 5 | 41.7% |
| Crimes Against Property | 7 | 58.3% |
| Crimes Against Society | 0 | 0.0% |
| Bias Motivation Category | Incidents | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry | 5 | 45.4% |
| Religion | 2 | 18.2% |
| Sexual Orientation | 2 | 18.2% |
| Disability | 0 | 0.0% |
| Gender | 0 | 0.0% |
| Gender Identity | 2 | 18.2% |
* 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.
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
U.S. Attorney's Office
Community Relations Service (CRS)
- Community Relations Service
at U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
175 N Street, NE, Suite 4.601
Washington, DC 20530
(202) 252-5550
USAEO.AskCRS@usdoj.gov