Lane County, OR. — A Springfield man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison after admitting to a violent hate crime targeting a victim because of their sexual orientation.
Daniel Andrew McGee, 26, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentencing was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Federal prosecutors said the attack occurred on July 5, 2021, after McGee contacted the victim through the dating application Grindr. McGee went to the victim’s Eugene apartment and carried out a brutal assault that lasted several minutes.
During the attack, McGee struck the victim in the head with a wooden tire thumper and attempted to gouge the victim’s eyes with his hands. The victim suffered life-threatening injuries, including serious head wounds.
Investigators later determined that the assault had been planned in advance. Court records show McGee spent weeks researching violent anti-gay material online and purchased the weapon used in the attack through Amazon. Authorities also found evidence he searched online for ways to get away with murder.
A federal grand jury in Eugene indicted McGee on November 18, 2021, charging him with committing a federal hate crime involving an attempted killing. He pleaded guilty to the charge on November 25, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford said the case underscores the government’s commitment to prosecuting hate crimes.
“The right to live safely in one’s community is a fundamental civil right,” Bradford said. “While no conviction can undo the harm caused, we hope this sentence will bring some measure of justice to the victim and our community.”
Acting FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Matt Torres said hate crimes harm entire communities, not just the individuals targeted.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Tenette Smith.
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