Motorcyclist facing hate crime charges in Bloomington enters into plea deal

Posted on April 26, 2021
Marshall Blanchard, 22, of Bloomington. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man charged with a hate crime after allegedly riding his motorcycle through a crowd of protesters last summer has entered into a plea deal with McLean County prosecutors.

According to the plea, Marhsall Blanchard, 22, will plead guilty to one charge of a hate crime and two charges of failing to give information after a motor vehicle accident involving injury.

County prosecutors are recommending the judge cap his sentencing at seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The charges stem from the incident when a crowd was marching just after George Floyd died at the hand of a Minneapolis police officer.

Two people were injured when Blanchard allegedly drove his motorcycle through the crowd.

Prosecutors filed eight hate crime charges against Blanchard and he was facing 17 charges in all, including aggravated battery in a public space and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Blanchard’s trial was scheduled to start next week.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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