Police arrest second woman in beating of Indian girl

LEWISTON – Police have arrested a second woman in the beating of an American Indian girl earlier this month.

Ashley Grant, 21, was arrested Monday afternoon on a warrant accusing her of felony malicious harassment in the Sept. 12 attack on a 13-year-old girl, Lewiston police Detective Brian Birdsell said. Idaho’s malicious harassment law makes it a crime to harass or intimidate someone because of race.

Court documents say the beating occurred outside an apartment complex where a group of men were yelling “white power” and “white pride.”

The teen was walking by the apartment complex at the time, according to prosecutors, and said something to the effect of, “What about Native pride?”

Court documents say a woman then punched the teen, knocking her to the ground. When the teen began to fight back, an older woman kicked her in the head and stomach. The teen, who suffered injuries to her face and arm, was treated and released from a local hospital.

Ashley Grant’s mother, 40-year-old Jill Grant, was arrested shortly after the beating. She remains in the Nez Perce County Jail, charged with felony malicious harassment.

In the days since the beating, four other people have been arrested and charged with felony attempted witness intimidation.

Ashley Grant’s brother, 19-year-old Jason R. Grant, a 16-year-old boy, 22-year-old Michael S. Moody and 18-year-old David C. Moody were arrested Sept. 15. Prosecutors accuse the four of chanting “white power” and other obscenities at the 13-year old girl and her mother outside their apartment.

About an hour after being released from jail on Sept. 17, Michael and David Moody were arrested again, this time for investigation of yelling “white power” and other remarks in a different part of town. They face one count each of misdemeanor disturbing the peace in that incident.

David Moody, Michael Moody and Jason Grant remain in jail, officials said.