Oregon Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime in Brutal Grindr Attack



EUGENE, Ore. — A 26-year-old Springfield man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Monday to a federal hate crime charge for nearly beating a gay man to death with a tire thumper after meeting him on the dating app Grindr.
Daniel Andrew McGee admitted to one count of a Hate Crime Act Involving an Attempt to Kill in connection with the July 5, 2021, assault that left the victim with life-threatening head injuries.Court documents reveal McGee spent at least a month planning the attack, searching online for violent anti-gay content, researching ways to “get away with murder,” and purchasing the wooden tire thumper and other materials on Amazon.
Prosecutors say McGee targeted the victim because of his sexual orientation. The two had connected on Grindr, an app primarily used by gay and bisexual men, and arranged to meet at the victim’s apartment, where the prolonged assault took place.
McGee was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2021. Under the plea agreement, he has agreed to pay full restitution to the victim.He faces up to life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 3, 2026.
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Eugene Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Tenette Smith.

Information from: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Oregon

Michael Weber, known for his extensive coverage of crime news in Lane County, continues to provide valuable updates to the local community. He runs the largest crime watch group in Lane County, Lane County Mugshots Uncensored, which currently has over 88,900 members. Support for local journalism is essential, and donations can be made via Venmo to @Michael-Weber-379 (last four digits of phone number: 0825).

You can also follow me on X: https://x.com/MugshotMike541 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Man Arrested for Abuse of Corpse After Woman’s Body Found in Cottage Grove

Image
COTTAGE GROVE, OR – Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the discovery of a deceased woman found on the sidewalk in front of 711 Highway 99 in Cottage Grove. The body was discovered at approximately 3:50 a.m. on March 28, 2025, prompting an immediate response from Cottage Grove Police. Upon arrival, officers determined the woman was deceased. Initially, her identity was withheld pending notification of next of kin. Based on information gathered independently, it was determined that the deceased had been staying at a local motel before her body was moved. Mark Michael Detering , (possibly related in some form) was arrested yesterday for allegedly removing her body from the motel after her death and abandoning it on the sidewalk where it was later discovered. This information was also gathered independently and has not been confirmed by law enforcement. Detering has been charged with Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree (ORS 166.085), a felony offense. His arrest is unde...
Read more

A Father’s Nightmare: How Lies and a Broken System Stole His Children

Image
Bend, Or. - The weight of this story is nearly unbearable. It is a chilling testament to how easily a father can lose his children, not through wrongdoing, but through a system that too often favors the first to accuse and asks questions later. Last month, I reported on the horrifying case of Sarah Session and her parents, Paula and Gary Hardenburg. Sarah stands accused of abusing and nearly killing her 9-year-old stepson, Braxton, while her parents allegedly enabled the abuse and helped cover it up. The details of this case are some of the most horrifying I have ever come across, acts of cruelty inflicted upon a helpless child, short of death itself. But beyond the gruesome abuse lies another devastating truth: Sarah was only able to harm this child because she manipulated the court system, weaponizing lies to gain not only custody of her own two children but also temporary custody of Braxton, her husband's son from a previous relationship. She stole them, not with force, but wit...
Read more

Springfield Man Faces 6 Felony Charges Including Sodomy and Sex Abuse

Image
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — On April 3, 2025, 31-year-old Ryder Dean Waddington was booked into Lane County Jail following his arrest by the Springfield Police Department. Waddington, described as a white male, 5’9” tall, weighing 165 pounds, with bald hair and brown eyes, faces five felony charges related to incidents that led to his arrest on Thursday. UPDATED CHARGES April 4th, 2025 - click to enlarge picture UPDATED - According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office booking record, Waddington is charged with two counts of first-degree sodomy, three count of first-degree sex abuse, and one count of unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree. The arrest, documented under case number 25-02246, occurred on April 3, with Waddington being processed into custody around 9 p.m. PDT. Each charge is classified as a felony, and bond amounts for all counts are set at $0, indicating he is being held without bail at this time. Waddington is currently detained on probable cause, and no formal charges h...
Read more