Richmond Hill man indicted on cross-burning charges | savannahnow.com

Gene Hoyt Vandiver, 34, of Richmond Hill, was indicted earlier this month by a federal grand jury sitting in Savannah on charges related to the burning of a cross in his neighbor’s yard. Vandiver was charged with one count of interfering with housing rights and with one count of arson. Vandiver had his initial appearance in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge G.R. Smith on Oct. 10.

According to information presented in court, Vandiver, who is white, allegedly burned a cross in the yard of his neighbor, whom Vandiver believed to be African-American. Vandiver also left a sign in his neighbor’s yard with a racial slur and a hand-drawn picture of a person being lynched.

via Richmond Hill man indicted on cross-burning charges | savannahnow.com.