An Ohio man who attempted to ‘push the gay’ out of his brother has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.
According to LGBTQ Nation, Lawrence L. Featheroff, 38, admitting to abusing his 26-year-old brother, Jason A Meyers, who is developmentally disabled, but highly functioning.
After he was abused at a group home, Meyers moved into a home shared by his brother, an aunt and uncle, and his brother’s girlfriend, Jamie R. Smith, 40. Featheroff was granted sole custody of Meyers.
Featheroff, Smith, and a friend, Brent M. Disbennet, 25, began abusing Meyers after Meyers told his brother he, “had sexual thoughts about men and boys.”
According to Queerty, Meyer’s abusers repeatedly hit him, only allowed him to eat once a day, made him run up and down a hill carrying a heavy railroad tie, and held a butcher knife under his genitals and threatened to cut them off.
Authorities uncovered the abuse in January when they visited the home and realized Meyer had a concussion, a sprained ankle, and multiple bruises on his face.
According to Detective Brian Lowe, Featheroff stated he, “wanted to toughen him up to push the gay out of him and make him a normal person.”
Featheroff pleaded guilty to attempted complicity to commit felonious assault and abduction.
Smith pleaded not guilty to attempted complicity to commit felonious assault and abduction.
Meyers is now living in adult foster care.