Teen jailed for refusing to testify in hate case

LONDON, Ky. - A federal judge in eastern Kentucky has jailed a teenager who refused to testify for the prosecution in a hate crime case against his brother.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove had 18-year-old Alex Jenkins taken into custody Monday and said he would give him another chance to testify Tuesday in the case against Anthony Jenkins.

Twenty-two-year-old Anthony Jenkins and his cousin, 37-year-old Jason Jenkins, are charged with kidnapping 29-year-old Kevin Pennington in April 2011, assaulting him and taking part in a federal hate crime.

Prosecutors say the attack happened because Pennington is gay, but defense attorneys have said the attack happened for other reasons. Prosecutors say it's a first for charges under a section of federal hate crime law on sexual orientation.