McMichaels file appeals in federal hate crimes case

Brunswick, GA — Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory McMichael, are appealing their federal hate crime convictions.

The McMichaels, along with William “Roddie” Bryan, were found guilty last month on charges stemming from the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery.

Arbery, a Black man, was chased and gunned down by the McMichaels and Bryan while jogging in Brunswick’s Satilla Shores neighborhood.

Travis McMichael fired the fatal shot.

[WATCH: Travis McMichael takes the stand in high-profile murder case]

A federal jury found the defendants, who are all white men, guilty of targeting Arbery because of his race.

Attorneys for the defendants are disputing the convictions for several reasons.

Travis McMichael’s appeal claims the streets Arbery was jogging on are private, not public.

Satilla Shores is not a gated community.

[RELATED: Backgrounds: Gregory, Travis McMichael]

Gregory McMichael’s appeal says the government failed to prove race had anything to do with why they chased Arbery.

He said he believed Arbery had been committing crimes in the neighborhood.

An appeal has not been filed on Bryan’s behalf.

[RELATED: Ahmaud Arbery case: Judge rejects hate crime plea deal for Travis, Greg McMichael]

In January, all three men were sentenced to life in prison for Arbery’s murder after a state trial.

Sentencing in the federal case has not yet been set.

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