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Press Release

Charleston Man Indicted on Hate Crime Charge

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

The Justice Department today announced that John Perry Taylor IV, 34, from Charleston, West Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of West Virginia on a charge of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The indictment alleges that on or about the evening of Oct. 7, 2017, and into Oct. 8, 2017, in the Southern District of West Virginia, Taylor willfully caused bodily injury to a woman, A.P. The indictment alleges that Taylor caused bodily injury to A.P. using a dangerous weapon because of A.P.’s actual and perceived sexual orientation. Specifically, Taylor made derogatory comments regarding A.P.’s actual and perceived sexual orientation and used a glass bottle to hit A.P. multiple times on her head, causing her to suffer a laceration, bruising, and pain. 

If convicted, Taylor faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Christine M. Siscaretti and Assistant United States Attorney Gabe Wohl.  

Updated June 21, 2018

Topic
Hate Crimes
Press Release Number: 18-824