Hate Crime victim speaks to NewsChannel 5

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A man of minority status has never felt more alone. Another senseless attack on his home has a state advocacy group stepping in to help.

Neal Anthony's been hit before.  

"I've spent a whole lot of money on this house," said Anthony, Warren County Homeowner and Vandalism Victim.

He spent $80,000 to fix up the home and $10,000 more dollars on surveillance cameras to make him feel secure. The cameras are a modern-day amenity that stand out against his 150-year-old structure.

"I'm scared to leave my windows open. I'm scared to leave my door open.  I'm afraid to go out in the yard by myself," said Anthony.

Vandals sprayed and splattered hate-filled words on his property Friday morning. Anthony said it's because of his sexuality.

"I'm not out there in my yard running naked, or being with my partner doing all these sex acts or anything like that," said Anthony.

Virtually every square foot of the property is within camera range, but this spray paint assault went undetected. The vandals cut the lines to Anthony's cameras, security lights, landscape lights and even severed power to the main house and his phone line. Anthony said this is the ninth assault on his property and he fears the attack might escalate from personal possessions to people.

The suspected vandals also spray painted "Dorothy's in Hell" referring to Neal's mother, who passed away in December.

The Tennessee Equality Project has stepped in to help. Advocates for gays, lesbians, and other minorities will work with investigators and convey to them the importance of stopping crimes like these.

NewsChannel5's calls to the Warren County sheriff's department went un-returned.

Neal Anthony said deputies busted some juveniles a little more than a year ago for assaulting his house with paint-ball guns. They were given probation, as a sentence.