Prosecutors won’t charge man over racist slurs directed at Utah basketball team

• 18-year-old accused of directing N-word at team members
• Conduct protected by first amendment says prosecutor

An Idaho prosecutor won’t bring hate crime charges against an 18-year-old accused of shouting a racist slur at members of the Utah women’s basketball team during this year’s NCAA Tournament.

The deputy attorney for the city of Coeur d’Alene made the announcement on Monday, writing that although the use of the slur was “detestable” and “incredibly offensive,” there wasn’t evidence suggesting that the man was threatening physical harm to the women or their property. That means the conduct is protected by the first amendment and can’t be charged under Idaho’s malicious harassment law, Ryan Hunter wrote.