Utah man arrested on suspicion of hate crime

By The Associated Press
Friday, October 19, 2012

KAMAS, Utah — A Summit County man is behind bars after allegedly assaulting two people after finding them in a same-sex romantic encounter.

Summit County deputies say they responded to reports of a fight in Kamas on Wednesday evening. They found three people with cuts and bruises, and ended up arresting 40-year-old Travis Gentry on suspicion of a hate crime assault.

Authorities say the two alleged victims and Gentry were acquaintances who were working together on Gentry’s property.

Deputies say Gentry found the two other people in a romantic encounter inside a utility shed before allegedly assaulting them.

Officials say Gentry used derogatory slang to refer to the victims, leading them to believe he assaulted them based on their sexual orientation.