A star running back from Marshall University was indicted after being caught on video assaulting two gay men. Meanwhile, his suspected accomplice was just drafted to play for the NFL, the Daily Beast reports.
The attack happened on April 5 in Huntington, West Virginia. The victims, Zackary Johnson and Casey Williams, were heading back to their hotel from a gay bar when one of them stopped to kiss the other.
Suddenly, a red Chevy Cobalt screeched to a halt. Steward “Stu” Butler, a 23-year-old running back at Marshall University, jumped out of the passenger side of the car screaming, “Stu don’t like that shit! Uh-uh! Stu don’t like that shit!”
Related: Vicious Attack On Two Gay Atlanta Teens Not Considered Hate Crime, Victims Will Face Charges
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Butler then proceeded to punch each of the men in the face while calling them “motherfucking faggots” before the driver of the call said, “Come on, man! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
Butler then got back in the car and it sped away. Little did he know, one of his victims had recorded the entire hate crime on his cellphone.
It took about a month, but police were eventually able to use the video to track down Butler. When they confronted him about the incident, he lied and said he was acting in self-defense. According to Butler, the men had pushed him and he “felt threatened,” so he punched them.
That’s when detectives told him there was video of the assault.
Butler was charged with two battery misdemeanors. (West Virginia’s hate crimes laws does not include sexual orientation.) On Friday, a Grand Jury indicted him on both counts. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 on each charge.
Related: Five Reasons Why Marriage Equality Isn’t The Be All And End All Of The Fight
As for the driver of the car, detectives believe that he, too, played football at Marshall University. When they showed the video to coaches, however, they refused to identify the man, claiming they knew who he was but that he was about to be drafted to play for the NFL.
So The Daily Beast did some digging. According to NFL Draft results, Marshall University’s Thundering Herd cornerback Darryl Roberts was just selected by the Super Bowl champs the New England Patriots in the seventh round.
When they reached out to Roberts for comment, he did not return their calls.
Louie Mars
Who the hell does this asshole think he is!?, stu dont like that shit, stu dont like that shit…what a douche…
Alexander R. Rodriguez
Ohhbb….but you guys supported the NFL when you it suited your purpose over RFRA in Indiana…..
John
A couple of things for all the WV backwoods jokes out there this shows WV more progressive than FL. The footballer accused is from Fl which is considered in most circles more progressive than WV. The school in WV had him immediately off the football team and out of the University showing it is unaccepatable behavior. Way to go Marshall. Yes, We are Marshall.
AtticusBennett
puke.
he’s pathetic, and the NFL is a cesspool of the worst men in the country.
Kangol
He’ll have to deal with the consequences of his violent, homophobic actions, but his accomplice should as well. The NFL can certainly do without the other running back who felt the need to cheer on a brutal attack.
MacAdvisor
A possible ten year sentence for a misdemeanor conviction seems incorrect. By and large, the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor is a misdemeanor sentence is limited to not longer than a year. Thus, a conviction of two misdemeanor counts should have a maximum sentence of two years. I am not familiar with West Virginia law, but something seems incorrect.
BigG
Truly disgusting behavior. I hope they both go down for this and have their lives ruined. it really is no different from when they were discriminated against back in the day. beaten up randomly by white people, now they’re doing it to gay people it’s the most hypocritical thing ever
Bauhaus
@AtticusBennett:
You couldn’t have said it better.
Is it any surprise, what, with the: wife-beaters, rapists, drunks, druggies, murderers, gamblers, child abusers, cheaters, closet-cases, gang-bangers, dead-beat dads, out of wedlock babies, bullies, girlfriend-beaters, assaults?
meghanada
What is the ethnicity of the victims? I’d like to know that, as I’m always being told that the broader LGBT community can’t ever discuss Black homophobia because we’re really not affected by it.
Lovelife
Some of the most homophobic people, turn out to be gay themselves. I wouldn’t be all that surprised if the accomplice and he were lovers.As I don’t picture someone having such an intense reaction towards something that has NOTHING to do with him personally.
He went out of his way to accost the couple-getting out of a car to randomly assault people doing something he didn’t like? God forbid if someone was eating chicken and he was a devout vegetarian!
The irony is that he will be stuck in an all male place that will expose him to a lot more man-loving-man action. In which case,he’ll probably have to to deal with his own sexuality issues: Out of the frying pan,into the fire.
Young people can make the worst decisions at a moments call.And the repercussions are very severe in this instance. Did he forget that he is black?c And the prison sentence tends to favour us more?
meghanada
@Lovelife: Oh shut up.
Arcamenel
@BigG: “discriminated against back in the day” um…we’re still being killed and discriminated against.
Bob LaBlah
If these guys were white, he had better start preparing to not only be dismissed from that college but to going to jail as well. That’s just how it is. The only reason why many of the locals got a high school diploma was out of sympathy than actually earning it. A star athlete, black, and going to college? And he is going to be judged by WHOM in a jury trial? A warning to all others who don’t realize the mentality of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tenn…etc: the only thing he has done now is given the other gays in those towns/states a reason to rethink their opposition to carrying a concealed weapon or keeping one close by in the car.
Yes, there are two side to every incident but I already know, this one has no one else to blame for his fate but himself. Hopefully neither one of the two guys has a relative in prison doing time for meth just waiting on his ass to show up. Think before you swing, those of you out there who live in those types of towns and hate gays of “color”. You are going to regret it in more ways than one.
SpunkyBunks
The NFL is dying. I don’t know anybody intelligent under 40 that follows it. It’s a baby boomer time waster that tolerates homophobia and violence. The NFL will die with them.
Bob LaBlah
@SpunkyBunks: Have you also noticed how tight their uniforms are as compared to twenty years ago? Those crotches seemed to have been lifted and rear ends highlighted compared to what they used to look like back in the 1980’s. The NFL has proven sex and fantasy does help fill seats and not just because of the cheerleaders.
Bill Crossfield
sad
Kangol
@meghanada: Why are you racializing this? Do you mention “white homophobia” when you speak of the Duggars? Or the GOP in Congress? Or the Mormon and Catholic Churches? Or Ted Cruz, who despises gays except to take rich ones’ money? Just wondering.
Lance Cardinal
who sell safe this yell would ask this asshole.
Dawson
Hopefully someone will notice the NCAA. While some may discount football it is the most watched sport in the United States. Maybe the Huffington Post will draw some attention to this. Marshall University should be put on probation for this. They are more interested in their reputation than that of the GLBT community.
Dawson
Sorry that was notify not notice
Blackceo
Seriously tho? If u are that bothered by two men kissing that you have to get out of your car and beat them up you are not fit for society. Hope he gets the max jail time,
@meghanada:
So are u talking about the LGBTQ community as a whole or just white gays? I’d like to know that as intersectionality seems to frequently be something people don’t think about.
@Kangol:
Doubt it.
martinbakman
Candygram for Mongo.
Candygram for Mongo.
Saint Law
@Bob LaBlah: Isn’t it time they changed your hospital gown? It must be pretty crusty by now.
Wearepizzacat
Now hold on a second. We can’t forget about the real victims: Christian bakers being forced to make wedding cakes.
Bob LaBlah
@Saint Law: Queen, if that’s the best your limped wrist ass can come up with I advise you not to get in a hair pulling contest with another queen your age. You will lose that as well.
Wearepizzacat
@Bob LaBlah: Did you create an account on a website devoted to LGBTQIA people purely so you could get red in the face and call people “queens” when you disagree with them? That insult doesn’t get you very far here. Or, you know, in any civilized country in the 21st century.
Bob LaBlah
@Wearepizzacat: Don’t stop. Please go on. Tell us all about how far HER insult to me is going to get her. Inquiring minds like HER need/should (but don’t) already know. And since YOU brought it up are you SURE you make enough to pay for that wedding cake, let alone the wedding and reception?
Seriously, I had no idea being an old frustrated ass queen was going to be such FUN thanks to no one else but you’ all, young think-you-actually-know-something ass twinks.