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Kentucky Teen Jailed for Refusing to Testify Against Brother Accused of Hate Crime

A federal judge in eastern Kentucky has jailed a teenager who refused to testify for the prosecution in a hate crime case against his brother. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove had 18-year-old Alex Jenkins taken into custody Monday and said he would give him another chance to testify Tuesday in the case against Anthony Jenkins.

Twenty-two-year-old Anthony Jenkins and his cousin, 37-year-old Jason Jenkins, are charged with kidnapping 29-year-old Kevin Pennington in April 2011, assaulting him and taking part in a federal hate crime. Prosecutors say the attack happened because Pennington is gay, but defense attorneys have said the attack happened for other reasons.
 
Prosecutors say it's a first for charges under a section of federal hate crime law on sexual orientation.

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