Montana
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.
Fast Facts on Montana Hate Crime Incidents*
| 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 |
| Crimes Against Persons | 11 | 68.8% |
| Crimes Against Property | 5 | 31.2% |
| Crimes Against Society | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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.
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
October 20, 2023
June 16, 2023
U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of Montana Hosts United Against Hate Meeting in Missoula
June 14, 2023
February 17, 2023
February 17, 2023
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
|
Salt Lake City |
|
Montana (Billings) |
|
Rocky Mountain Regional Office |