Damyen Vainuku is the defendant in a Utah criminal case involving allegations that an 18-year-old targeted a gay former high school classmate with repeated threats of violence because of the victim’s sexual orientation. Salt Lake County prosecutors filed multiple criminal charges in connection with the alleged conduct.
The case includes Utah’s victim targeting penalty enhancement, which allows enhanced penalties when prosecutors establish that a victim was intentionally selected because of certain protected characteristics, including sexual orientation. Vainuku is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
JRL CHARTS LGBT Politics USA will follow significant developments involving the Damyen Vainuku case, including court proceedings, prosecution updates and any rulings involving Utah’s victim-targeting law.
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