COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — A northern Idaho prosecutor won't bring hate crime charges against an 18-year-old accused of shouting a racist slur at members of the Utah women's basketball team during the NCAA tournament.
The deputy attorney for the city of Coeur d'Alene made the announcement Monday, writing in a charging decision document that although the use of the slur was «detestable» and «incredibly offensive,» there wasn't evidence suggesting that the man was threatening physical harm to the women or to their property.
That means the conduct is protected by the First Amendment and can't be charged under Idaho's malicious harassment law, Ryan Hunter wrote.
The members of the University of Utah basketball team were staying at a Coeur d'Alene hotel in March as they competed at the NCAA tournament in nearby Spokane, Washington.