Gay Couple Says They Were Attacked in Caldwell; Now Pushing for Change Under Idaho Protection Laws

Idaho police 'unable' to charge alleged anti-gay assault as hate crime

Idaho police have said they are not able to charge a man who was arrested for allegedly assaulting a gay couple with a hate crime due to a loophole in the state’s law. Pedro Villareal was arrested after reports were made that he had shouted antigay slurs at Eric Reed and Juan Olvera outside a restaurant before chasing them to nearby railroad tracks and beating them. The couple who were assaulted spoke to KTVB about the attack, which left Reed re…

Gay couple says they were attacked in Caldwell; now pushing for change under Idaho protection laws

Originally Published: 16 JUN 26 14:29 ET By Leslie Solis Click here for updates on this story     CALDWELL, Idaho (KIVI) -- Two Canyon County men say they were targeted, chased, and beaten by a group of men in downtown Caldwell Saturday night — and because of a gap in Idaho law, the attack cannot be prosecuted as a hate crime. Juan Olvera and his partner, Eric Reed, say they were dining downtown when a group of men began directing homophobic slu…

“I literally thought I was going to die”: Gay couple survives brutal beating in small town

A gay couple leaving a restaurant during a night market event was taunted, chased, and then beaten by at least one man in a group shouting homophobic slurs. The attack happened in Caldwell, Idaho, a small city west of the capital in Boise, Idaho6 News reports Related Wanna pee in Idaho? First, get a forced DNA test to prove your gender, state GOP lawyer suggests Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+…

Idaho police say alleged antigay beating can’t be charged as a hate crime

An Idaho man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a gay couple outside a restaurant. But despite allegations that Pedro Villareal hurled antigay slurs before beating two men, authorities charged him only with a misdemeanor and said the state's hate crime law doesn’t apply.Caldwell Police say Villareal and other men started shouting slurs at Eric Reed and Juan Olvera outside Acapulco, a restaurant in town, and then chased them from a plaza to ne…