Indiana Man Charged With Hate Crime After Burning Cross Above Black Neighbour's Fence Line

An Indiana man was charged Thursday, Aug. 6, for hate crimes including placing and burning a cross above the fence line facing his Black neighbor's property.

Shepherd Hoehn of Lawrence was charged with two counts for unlawful possession of firearms and for making "threats to intimidate and interfere with his African-American neighbor", a press release from the Justice Department confirmed. The acts were done to show the former’s disapproval of his neighbor's race, authorities said.

Documents filed in connection with the complaint said, "On June 18, 2020, a construction crew began working at the direction of Hoehn’s neighbor to remove a tree from the neighbor’s property."

Hoehn, visibly angry over these acts, allegedly began intimidating and interfering with his neighbor and the construction workers.

He placed a cross on the fence line facing his neighbor’s property and then set it ablaze. He also "created and displayed a swastika on the outer side of his fence" and placed "a large sign containing a variety of anti-Black racial slurs," and also a "machete near the sign," the release stated.

Hoehn was accused of playing the "Dixie" song on repeat and also for throwing eggs at his neighbor’s house.

The FBI executed a federal search warrant at Hoehn’s home on July 1.

During the search, agents located several firearms and drug paraphernalia in Hoehn’s possession. They also learned Hoehn was a fugitive from a case in Missouri and was lawfully restricted from possessing firearms.

If convicted, Hoehn could face a maximum of up to 10 years in prison with a fine of up to $250,000.