The Virginian-Pilot
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CHESAPEAKE
A 31-year-old Chesapeake man was sentenced Friday to 60 days in jail for misdemeanor hate crimes against black men outside a convenience store in Western Branch.
Matthew T. Shepherd was sentenced for his Sept. 24, 2007, assault and battery against a couple of men at a 7-Eleven on Portsmouth Boulevard at Gum Road. Shepherd instigated the assault while yelling racial slurs at his victims, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Johnson had argued during an earlier preliminary hearing.
Circuit Judge Randy Smith sentenced Shepherd to 12 months each on two counts of assault and battery, suspending 11 months on each count. Smith ordered Shepherd to have no contact with the victims.
He must pay court costs and complete an indeterminate period of supervised probation, which will include alcohol and drug screening.
On that night in 2007, Shepherd had been out drinking and was riding with others in a car when he suddenly jumped out. He approached two black men at a nearby gas pump outside the 7-Eleven, yelling racial slurs during a confrontation, according to court records.
He then approached another man who was exiting the store and tried to strike him, according to court testimony. During a struggle, the windshield of the victim's car was cracked.
Shepherd, who was on probation at the time, was charged with felony hate crimes. In a plea agreement, he agreed to plead to two misdemeanor counts and serve weekend jail time.
His attorney, Jo Anne Spencer, argued that he "was severely beaten" in the confrontation and that one victim beat him with a metal pole. Shepherd was extremely intoxicated and the victims were uninjured, Spencer said.
"He doesn't have any racial bones in his body," she told the court.
John Hopkins, (757) 222-5221, john.hopkins@pilotonline.com
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