The news is currently filled with allegations that Miami Dolphins Guard Richie Incognito harassed and bullied fellow teammate Jonathan Martin so intensely that Martin felt he had no other option than to resign from the team. In response to these allegations, the Miami Dolphins handed down an immediate and indefinite suspension to Incognito. They also launched their own investigation into Incognito's alleged conduct and the volumes of violent, racially-charged text messages and voicemails reportedly sent by Incognito that could be considered to be hate crimes.
Incognito vehemently refuted all allegations. He also stated that while he did truly regret the racial terms and profane language he had chosen to use in the text messages and voicemails, he and Martin had exchanged many such messages all in a spirit of "brotherhood." As of this point no official charges have been filed against Incognito for hate crimes or any other criminal activity. Martin himself has yet to make an official statement on the matter either, and the investigation is ongoing.
Hate crimes are those criminal activities that are motivated by a victim's race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political beliefs, disabilities, or nationality. Hating a person is not a crime; however, acting on that hate by making threats to the point where the person truly believes his or her life or the lives of loved ones are in imminent danger is against the law.
If you or a loved one has been accused of committing a hate crime it is vital that you seek legal counsel from a skilled Miami criminal defense attorney at once. A hate crime is a serious criminal offense, and even the accusation that you have committed a hate crime could be enough to destroy your reputation. Our firm is here to help you fight back against these accusations and charges.
With our in-depth knowledge of criminal law and our extensive experience defending the rights of those individuals facing criminal accusations in the Miami area, the Law Office of Michael Mirer, P.A. stands ready to provide you with the aggressive defense strategy you need. Call our firm right away to discuss your legal options.