CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, brothers 56-year-old Roy Lamar Lashley Jr. and 52-year-old Robert Dewayne Lashley were sentenced in federal court for a hate crime they committed in Citrus County back in 2021.
On November 17, 2021, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) was contacted in reference to a physical disturbance near the Family Dollar in Citrus Springs. The caller told communications officers that two white males, later identified as brothers Roy and Robert Lashley, were attacking a black male victim with an axe handle.
Deputies immediately responded to the scene and were able to take both brothers into custody. While being detained, Roy Lashley kicked one of the deputies several times and actively resisted their efforts to place him in a patrol vehicle.
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Witnesses to the attack told deputies that the brothers were yelling racial slurs at the victim and that Robert Lashley began to punch the victim, knocking him to the ground. According to the victim and witnesses, Roy Lashely retrieved an axe handle and joined the attack, striking the victim with it multiple times.
Roy Lashley was arrested for one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of resisting an officer without violence, one count of resisting an officer with violence, and one count of battery on a law enforcement officer.
Robert Lashley was arrested for one count of battery.
As the investigation continued, Detective Steelfox with the CCSO’s Major Crimes Unit (MCU) was able to identify and interview multiple witnesses to the attack.
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It quickly became apparent that the brothers had targeted the victim because of his race and used racial slurs while attacking him.
Due to this incident appearing to be a hate crime, Detective Steelfox consulted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of the United States Attorney, and it was determined that this case would be prosecuted in federal court.
“No person should ever have to worry about being a target for violence because of their race, religion, or nationality,” said Sheriff Prendergast. “I am extremely pleased with the federal convictions of these two and believe that justice has been served thanks to the aggressive prosecution of this case. Working in cooperation with our federal partners, we ensured that these criminals received the highest possible penalty for their brutal attack on an innocent individual.”
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Based on their actions, Roy Lashley was sentenced to five years in federal prison followed by three years of federal probation, and Robert Lashley was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of federal probation.
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