In London, KY, Anthony and David Jason Jenkins were acquitted of hate-crime charges connected to the April 2011 beating of 29-year-old Kevin Pennington.
The case was the first federal trial invoking sexual-orientation statutes in the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The Jenkins, however, were found guilty for kidnapping and conspiracy in connection with the attack on Pennington. Their attorneys successfully argued that it wasn’t homophobia but simply a drug deal gone bad that prompted the attack.
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Andrew Stephens, the attorney for David Jason Jenkins, argued that his client had at least 21 beers on the day of the assault and was too drunk to have formulated a plan for such an attack.
“These people who were stoned and drunk were going to form a plan? When this event took place, they were all about drugs,” Stephens said.
Attorney Willis Coffey, who represents Anthony Jenkins, argued that his client has an IQ of roughly 75 and was merely a follower who does not hate gay people. He called the allegations “the nearest thing to nothing I have ever seen.”
Coffey said Pennington pushed the idea that he was attacked for being gay to serve his own political agenda. Coffey invoked the name of the Democratic president who is unpopular in Kentucky and lost badly there four years ago.
“If the government and President Obama want to bow to the special interest groups, that’s their business, but they picked the wrong case,” Coffey said.
The men were acquitted despite testimony from relatives Ashley and Alexis Jenkins claiming they had used anti-gay slurs while beating Pennington. Ashley insisted that Anthony and David had intended to kidnap, beat and eventually kill Pennington because he was gay.
Attorney Hydee Hawkins also played a 911 tape in which Pennington says, “They’re trying to kill me. I didn’t know what they were going to do. I think it’s because I’m gay.”
Hawkins claimed it was a day for accountability—though it seems the buck stopped a bit short of London, Kentucky.
2eo
There is no justice.
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/terrorism-charge-for-man-who-shot-guard-at-family-research-council-hq/news/2012/10/24/52059
This guy gets a terrorism charge, meanwhile the Aurora shootings and dozens of other crimes ranging from race hate to gay hate get nothing. The cynic in me says only the right get “justice” and everyone else can choke in a prison without charge, forever.
Aidan8
“Coffey said Pennington pushed the idea that he was attacked for being gay to serve his own political agenda. Coffey invoked the name of the Democratic president who is unpopular in Kentucky and lost badly there four years ago.
“If the government and President Obama want to bow to the special interest groups, that’s their business, but they picked the wrong case,” Coffey said.”
Yes yes yes…. this was all just a political ploy. What a joke. As a lawyer, I’m offended and saddened that Coffey would use that as a tactic. Although, I suppose he’s bowing to his own special interest group: rednecks.
Dumdum
Lawyers occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. Since when has having a low IQ ever stopped a person from committing a hate crime? Seems like the two go hand in hand. Too bad there is no virus that targets stupid intolerant jerks. Of course if there was I guess I would be one of the first to go.
jeandeflorette
If they’re convicted of kidnapping, they may very well serve more time in jail than the guy that KILLED Sean Kennedy in Greenville, South Carolina. The defendant invoked the “gay panic” defense and spent only a year in jail.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_W._Kennedy
Charli Girl
C O W A R D S !!!! Judge Coward invited the boys over for pickled feet and grits afterwards!!!
Austin John
Do I understand this correctly?
The gay guy we’re getting so incensed to protect…
was selling drugs to two drunks…
one with the word “cash” tatooed on his neck ?
Just how much moral outrage am I supposed to invest on this?
Dumdum
@Austin John: Those are the defendants, you know the ones in ORANGE. Do I understand this correctly? Apparently you do not. By your statement it is OK to kidnap and or kill a person who uses drugs whether they are Gay or not. So guess if you are drunk and I beat the crap out of you because my dad was a drunk and beat the crap out of me so I hate ALL DRUNKS??? That’s OK to??? Just checking.