Image from a quicklink (Image by Unknown Owner) Details DMCA | Two Eastern Kentucky women have become the first people in the nation convicted under the federal hate-crimes law of helping assault someone because of the victim's sexual orientation.
Alexis Leeann Jenkins and Mable Ashley Jenkins, who goes by Ashley, pleaded guilty to one charge of kidnapping and one charge of aiding others in causing bodily injury to Kevin Pennington of Letcher County because he is gay. The convictions are the first in the nation under provisions of the federal law covering crimes of violence motivated by a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation, according to U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey. The two face possible life sentences. |