A man from Basin, Montana, John Russell Howald, has received an 18-year federal prison sentence following his conviction on hate crime and firearms charges. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Brian Morris, stems from a March 2020 incident where Howald threatened a woman with homophobic slurs and fired shots at her residence using an assault rifle. This case aligns with the Department of Justice's amplified focus on prosecuting hate crimes.

Howald's actions were part of what he described as a personal mission to eliminate the LGBTQ+ community from his small town. After the initial attack, he planned to target other individuals he perceived as LGBTQ+, carrying two assault rifles, a hunting rifle, two pistols, and numerous high-capacity magazines taped together for swift reloading. Fortunately, local residents leaving church that Sunday recognized Howald and managed to delay him until a sheriff's deputy could arrive. During this intervention, Howald continued to fire his weapon and vocalize his hatred, inadvertently recorded by one of the residents.

Upon the deputy's arrival, Howald aimed his rifle at the officer, narrowly avoiding a shootout before escaping into the nearby hills. He was apprehended the following day, and a search of his vehicle and camper revealed the cache of weapons and ammunition. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Jesse Laslovich, emphasized the severity of Howald's actions, highlighting the bravery of the residents and law enforcement in preventing a potential mass shooting. He reiterated the commitment of his office to protecting the civil rights of all Montanans, including members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark noted that Howald intended his actions to incite similar attacks nationwide. Howald's defense attorney plans to appeal the conviction. Concurrent with his federal sentence, Howald is serving a 10-year state sentence for criminal endangerment related to the same incident. This isn't Howald's first encounter with the law. In 2006, he served a two-year prison sentence for aggravated animal cruelty after admitting to shooting and decapitating a dog.

Image caption: A man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after being convicted of a hate crime and firearms charges.