COLUMBUS, Ohio — Trey Fetzer pleaded guilty to a criminal trespassing charge after being “caught on camera urinating on a pride flag and directing homophobic remarks” at a home in Weinland Park this February.
In addition to the guilty plea, he also completed community service and class hours at LGBTQ+ organizations, according to a press release from Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein.
“As City Attorney, I’ve drawn a line in the sand on hate, instructing my office to work with victims on the most appropriate outcomes in these cases,” Klein said in the release. “In this case, victims came forward with a call for no jail time and an opportunity for restorative justice, and after consulting with them and defense counsel at every step in this process, city prosecutors offered a rigorous mitigation plan that balances criminal accountability with victim-centered justice.”
Fetzer participated in service hours at Stonewall Cincinnati for the pride festival and attended classes at Stonewall Columbus. The release also notes he completed other requirements in order to be reinstated at The Ohio State University.
After these classes and service hours, his guilty plea will net him a $250 fine and a year of probation.
One of the victims, Raven Shank, released the following statement, according to the release:
“We think it’s important for both the Court and the defendant to understand the impact this crime has had on us. While the overt act itself was merely gross and crude, the larger impact has been on our sense of safety and well-being. We know that being openly and proudly part of the LGBTQ+ community comes with tradeoffs. On one hand, we get to authentically live our lives and celebrate our culture in a way that brings us joy with our community. On the other hand, it opens us up to harassment and potentially violence by those who don’t think we should have a public life that includes those aspects of ourselves.
“When Mr. Fetzer urinated on our property and shouted vulgar threats to us, he didn’t just go where he wasn’t supposed to and damage property. He sent a message to us and those like us that we don’t belong here and should hide who we are. We refuse to do that.
“Having said that, the crime has made us feel like we’re less safe. We’ve had to be more cautious in our day-to-day lives. We have three minor children in the house between the five of us, and they’ve had to deal with the worry that comes from not knowing if they’ll be safe at home, let alone in the neighborhood. And this act sent a message to the LGBTQ+ community of Columbus that you might be next. Mr. Fetzer may not have considered the impact this act had, but we’re all affected by his actions just the same.
“We live here in Columbus because it’s generally a safer and more welcoming place for us. Some of us moved here from other parts of Ohio specifically for that reason. Mr. Fetzer chipped away at that sense of safety, and needs to be held accountable for doing so.”