Montana man arraigned on hate crime, firearm charges Montana Department of Corrections John Russell Howald, 44, of Basin, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and with the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence By: MTN News and last updated 2021-06-30 17:34:50-04 GREAT FALLS â A Montana man accused of firing a gun into an individualâs house and threatening the individual with violent, homophobic slurs was arraigned on Tuesday on federal hate crime and firearm charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.