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Date: 07-15-2018

Case Style:

United States of America v. Alvin Christopher Penn

Northern District of Texas Federal Courthouse - Dallas, Texas

Case Number:

Judge: Jeffrey L. Cureton

Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (Dallas County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Rebekah Bailey

Defendant's Attorney: Not Available

Description: Dallas, TX - GRAPEVINE TEXAS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL HATE CRIME AGAINST AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY

Glenn Eugene Halfin, 64, from Grapevine, Texas, appeared on July 12, 2018 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and pleaded guilty to a federal charge of interfering with an African-American family’s housing rights, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas and Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division.

According to court documents, Halfin threatened force, intimidated, and interfered with a family because of their race and occupancy of an apartment that was located directly above his own apartment.

According to documents filed in connection with the guilty plea, on Dec. 19, 2017, Halfin purchased a baby doll at a Wal-Mart in Grapevine, Texas. He took a rope, fashioned it into a noose, and hung the baby doll from the noose. Halfin then hung the rope noose and baby doll on the railing directly in front of the only staircase the family could use to access their apartment. Halfin did so, knowing that this display would be particularly intimidating for the family who had a young daughter. In addition, the defendant referenced in his factual basis repeated intimidation of and interference with the same African-American family on other occasions.

“No one should be afraid to go home at night,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “Our community will not tolerate crimes of intimidation or bigotry, and my office will continue to prosecute all those who persecute others based on their race, color, ethnicity, or religious beliefs.”

“The Justice Department will not tolerate acts of intimidation and fear, or illegal threats against any individual or family because of their race,” said Acting Assistant Attorney John Gore. “We will continue to prosecute hate crime offenders.”

Halfin faces a statutory maximum penalty of no more one year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for a later date.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Grapevine Police Department.

Outcome: Guilty

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