A man from southwestern Montana has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for committing a hate crime and firearms charges. The man, John Russell Howald, threatened a woman with violent, homophobic slurs and shot at her house with an AK-style rifle. He claimed that he was on a self-described “mission” to rid a small town of its LGBTQ community.
Howald, who is 46 years old, was convicted in February and sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Great Falls for the shooting incident that occurred in March 2020.
His indictment in June 2021 was a result of the U.S. Department of Justice’s increased enforcement of hate crimes under the leadership of U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark stated, “Hate crimes are especially pernicious because they harm targeted individuals and the entire community. No community should live in fear because of who they are, where they are from, or what they believe, and it is our goal to make that a reality.”
Prosecutors revealed that after shooting at the lesbian woman’s house, Howald intended to target others in the town whom he perceived to be LGBTQ. He was heavily armed with multiple firearms and high-capacity magazines.
Fortunately, residents and law enforcement were able to prevent further harm. Howald was eventually apprehended and the weapons and ammunition were seized.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich stated, “Howald fired multiple shots into someone’s home based solely on her sexual orientation, and it was only the heroic and brave actions of residents and law enforcement that prevented a targeted mass shooting.”
During the trial, Howald claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic and personal losses had caused him distress. However, his actions were not justified, and he hoped that his planned shooting would inspire similar attacks elsewhere.
Defense attorney Colin Stephens argued that Howald had coexisted peacefully with the LGBTQ community in the town for many years. However, this does not excuse his violent actions.
Howald is currently serving a state sentence for a separate charge related to the shooting incident, and he will serve his federal sentence concurrently. He has also been ordered to forfeit the weapons seized from his property.
This case serves as a reminder that hate crimes have no place in society, and that the justice system will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
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