Peoria County man in jail on suspicion of hate crime

PEORIA COUNTY (25News Now) – A Peoria County man is in jail on a hate crime charge after allegedly yelling racist epithets and threatening to kill his black neighbors.

A Peoria County grand jury indicted Charles Gathard, 46, of Bellevue on Tuesday.

According to a police report from the Peoria County Sheriff's Office, Gathard repeatedly verbally abused his neighbors on the night of Tuesday, August 6, throwing sticks at the house, threatening to burn it down and telling them to “go back to their village.”

The report states that neighbors recorded the altercation on video, which supports their testimony.

The next day, sheriff's deputies said they went to Gathard's house and he attempted to barricade himself in a bedroom before being taken into custody.

Gathard reportedly told investigators he was drunk and could not remember what happened. He also suggested his statements were taken out of context, claiming he had overdosed on drugs and wanted to die.

Gathard's arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, August 29.

Under Illinois state law, a hate crime is a Class 4 felony punishable by one to three years in prison. A convicted person may also be released on parole.

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