Utah Man Who Reported Hate Crime Now Says Wounds Self-Inflicted | Advocate.com

Another incident that I had taken a wait-and-see attitude towards.  Regardless of the legal ramifications, it is disconcerting that Jones felt he had to choose this route, "The mental health of these youth depends on a loving network of family, neighbors, and friends.  Without these enduring ties, kids like Rick become increasingly vulnerable.”

A Utah gay man who reported that an attacker carved “Die Fag” into his arm now says the wound was self-inflicted, police said Tuesday.

Attorneys for Rick Jones made the admission last week to the sheriff’s office in Millard County, a largely rural area south of Salt Lake City, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

“Our client is responsible for all of the incidents and that would include the cutting of his own skin” as well as his reports of burglary and vandalism at his home and his family business, a pizza restaurant, attorney Paul Burke told the paper Tuesday. Jones had claimed three separate attacks occurred, two in April and one in June.

But Burke said this was not a hoax but “a cry for help,” as Jones, 21, is having problems with family members, who are not pleased that he is gay.

“A hoax implies a genuine intent to deceive,” the lawyer said. “From what I understand of this situation, this was a cry for help and it was a genuine cry for help.”

Utah Man Who Reported Hate Crime Now Says Wounds Self-Inflicted | Advocate.com