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Hurricane man charged with hate crime

Posted at 7:43 PM, Apr 14, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-14 21:43:25-04

HURRICANE — A Hurricane man was charged with a federal hate crime after threatening an interracial family in his community, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah.

The attorney’s office and the Department of Justice have charged Robert Keller, 70, with interfering with the housing right of three members of an interracial family.

Keller reportedly wrote a note to two Caucasian family members of the family threatening to kill them if they did not make their African-American family member leave their home and the community.

Keller has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of criminal interference with a right to fair housing.

The first count alleges that the Hurricane man’s threats interfered with the housing rights of the Caucasian residents to associate in their home with African-American family member.

The second count alleges that Keller’s threats interfered with the African-American resident’s right to occupy the home.

A summons will be issued to Keller to appear in federal court. The Hurricane man could face a maximum penalty of one year in prison on each count.