GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi man who previously admitted killing a transgender teen from Alabama because of her sexual identity has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime.
The U.S. Justice Department says the plea, entered Wednesday by 28-year-old Joshua Brandon Vallum of Lucedale, Mississippi, is the nation's first involving a victim targeted because of gender identity under a federal hate crime law.
Vallum pleaded guilty to a state murder charge in July in the 2015 beating death of 17-year-old Mercedes Williamson of Theodore, Alabama.
Born Michael Wilkins, Williamson dated Vallum. Authorities say Vallum was in a gang that banned homosexuality, and killed Williamson after a friend discovered Williamson wasn't biologically female.
Vallum already is serving a life sentence in state prison. He faces the same sentence in the federal case.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More like this story
- Coast Man Gets 49 Years for Anti-Transgender Hate Crime Killing of Sex Partner
- OPINION: Hate Crimes Are Still a Problem. Lawmakers Could Help.
- Murder Case Raises Question: Do LGBT Hate Crime Laws Work?
- 2 Men Plead Guilty in 2011 Racial Beatings in Mississippi
- Butler, Dedmon, Rice plead guilty to federal hate crime
Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
comments powered by Disqus