More on the Warren County hate crime

Early this weekend, we noted Out & About Newspaper's report on a hate crime committed against Neal Anthony of Warren County. Tonight Nashville's Channel 5 went to Warren County to talk with Anthony about the incident.

I have heard that the TBI may not consider the incident a hate crime since no one was injured. We'll provide an update when we can verify whether that is true or not. Regardless, the TBI's 2007 hate crime report does list categories of hate crimes that include vandalism and property damage on p. 23. Furthermore, the Tennessee hate crimes statute also includes property damage.

(17) The defendant intentionally selected the person against whom the crime was committed or selected the property that was damaged or otherwise affected by the crime, in whole or in part, because of the defendant's belief or perception regarding the race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or gender of that person or the owner or occupant of that property; however, this subdivision (17) should not be construed to permit the enhancement of a sexual offense on the basis of gender selection alone;

So far, Channel 5 and Out & About Newspaper have covered the story. Warren County's Southern Standard has been updated since the incident on Friday, but as of Sunday night the paper hasn't posted anything.