Idaho men sentenced for hate crime

BOISE, Idaho, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Three men received prison sentences Tuesday for the racially motivated attack of a black man outside a Wal-Mart in Idaho.

Evidence revealed the men uttered racial slurs while attacking the 24-year-old victim on July 4 in Nampa, Idaho, the Idaho Press-Tribune reported Tuesday.

"These convictions mean that racial crimes will not be tolerated ... not in this country ... not on any day," U.S. Attorney Tom Moss said.

"Idaho, like most other parts of this nation, has had inglorious moments in its past when people endured oppression and criminal acts merely because of their skin color, race, national origin, gender or religion. We are long past that time."

U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge sentenced Michael Bullard, 23, of Middleton, to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release; Richard Armstrong, 24, of Nampa, to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release; and James Whitewater, 23, of Nampa, to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release.