GODFREY – A Godfrey resident pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime in a Jersey County case involving racially-charged threats, white supremacist motorcycle club affiliation and more.
Troy D. Hacker, 39, of Godfrey, pleaded guilty to a Class 4 felony count of hate crime in Jersey County court on Sept. 16, 2026. Per his guilty plea, a Class A misdemeanor count of aggravated assault on public property was dismissed.
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Hacker was sentenced to 24 months of conditional discharge and was ordered to pay $599 in court fines by March 28, 2028. Under the terms of his conditional discharge, Hacker has been ordered to have no contact with the victim or the victim’s family and to remain at least 1,000 feet away from the victim’s Godfrey residence.
The charges against Hacker were filed on July 29, 2026, with the hate crime charge stating he knowingly committed aggravated assault against another person by reason of the victim’s “actual race and color.”
An incident report prepared by a Jersey County Sheriff’s Deputy on July 26, 2026 details the agency’s response to a disturbance reported earlier the same day. A supplemental report on the incident, written by Sheriff Nick Manns, includes an evidentiary review of statements captured on body worn camera footage and the circumstances leading to Hacker’s arrest.
Deputy Details Disturbance Response
The initial incident report states a Jersey County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to a Godfrey residence on July 26, 2026 for a reported disturbance. The caller said his neighbor ran into his yard while yelling for help before reporting “a white male further down the road had threatened him, directed racial slurs at him and told him to get off the street.”
The deputy later made contact with the victim who was yelling for help and asked him to explain the incident. While jogging along the road for exercise and typing on his phone, the victim reported seeing a white male come outside before making threats and using racial slurs towards him. The victim also told police the white male “showed him Nazi symbols tattooed on his chest and began walking toward him in an aggressive manner.”
Deputies then made contact with a shirtless white male who matched the victim’s description of the suspect, later identified as Hacker, who was walking along Highway 67. After explaining the reason for their contact, Hacker “became agitated” with deputies and began sharing his perspective on the incident, using racial slurs throughout the conversation.
Hacker accused the victim of taking photos of his house and daughter and told deputies if the victim appeared on his property “again,” he would commit an act of battery against the victim. However, the report states Hacker never confirmed whether or not the victim had actually been on his property.
Hacker told deputies he never made physical contact with the victim, displayed any weapons or threatened to kill the victim. He did confirm threatening to commit battery against the victim if the victim did not leave the area.
Sheriff Describes Motorcycle Club Comments Before Arrest
Sheriff Manns responded to Hacker’s Godfrey address on July 29, 2026 to speak to him about the incident. While Hacker was not present at the time, an occupant of the home called Hacker before handing the phone to Manns, who recorded the conversation on his body worn camera.
Manns requested to speak with Hacker in person before seeking a warrant for his arrest, but Hacker declined. Instead, Hacker allegedly told Manns, “Me and my club is listening to you, Sheriff” and “Me and my club is right here.” Manns later learned Hacker was referring to the Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club, described in the sheriff’s report as a white supremacist organization.
Manns again requested to meet with Hacker in person outside his place of work in an effort to avoid jeopardizing Hacker’s employment. Hacker again refused, and upon being informed of the sheriff’s intent to arrest him, responded: “You gotta find me, you gotta find me.”
That same afternoon, Manns returned to the area near Hacker’s residence and began surveillance. After seeing Hacker’s vehicle approach the residence, Manns drove up to the property. Hacker then exited the vehicle, entered the residence and locked the front door.
Hacker eventually opened the door after Manns threatened to force entry into the home. Hacker was then handcuffed and arrested before being transported to the Jersey County Jail.
