Man gets seven years for beating of Navajo man

Wednesday, April 18, 2007  

A 19-year-old man was sentenced to seven years in prison for a racially-motivated attack on a Navajo man in Farmington, New Mexico.

John Winer was 18 when he beat, kidnapped and assaulted William Blackie in June 2006. The incident heightened racial tensions in the border community.

Winer pleaded guilty to his crimes and admitted that he acted out of hate. The judge in the case added another year to the sentence under the state's Hate Crimes Act.

Two co-defendants are awaiting trial for participating in the attack on Blackie.

Get the Story:
Man convicted of hate crime to serve 7 years in prison (The Farmington Daily Times 4/18)

Relevant Links:
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Navajo Nation Council - http://www.navajonationcouncil.org

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