Burke Burnett is shown after the attack.
Micky Joe Smith
The victim of a brutal anti-gay hate crime in East Texas last fall said Wednesday he was “grateful and comforted” after the second of three suspects in the attack was sentenced to 10 years in prison this week.
Micky Joe Smith, 25, of Brookston pleaded no contest Tuesday to a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, plus a hate crime enhancement, in the beating of 26-year-old Burke Burnett, according to Burnett’s attorney, Don Haslam.
Burnett, who’s gay, suffered second-degree burns and needed more than 30 stitches following the attack at a private Halloween party in Reno, a small town just east of Paris and 100 miles northeast of Dallas, in the early morning hours of Oct. 30.
Burnett’s attackers yelled anti-gay slurs as they sucker-punched him in the eye, stabbed him in the back and arm with a broken beer bottle, and threw him onto a lit burn barrel. The case made national news after graphic photos of Burnett’s injuries were posted on Instant Tea.
“I am grateful and comforted to hear of the sentencing of Micky Joe Smith,” Burnett said Wednesday. “So many people who have endured similar experiences of hate crimes have not been afforded the opportunity to see justice served. The gay community in North Texas is a safer place today.”
Burnett declined further comment.
In February, 32-year-old James Mitchell Laster of Paris pleaded no contest to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, including a hate crime enhancement, and was sentenced to eight years in prison in Burnett’s attack. A third suspect, 33-year-old Daniel Shawn Martin of Paris, was scheduled for a jury trial Wednesday, but the proceeding was postponed, Haslam said.
Martin is charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, as well as a hate crime enhancement.
“It’ll be a shock to me if he [Martin] eludes the hate crime enhancement, whether he goes to trial or not,” Haslam said.
Looking at the photo of Smith, I see no remorse or regret whatsoever in his facial expression. I’m sure he’s planning his next assault, as soon as he is up for parole.
We will not see change until churches, politicians, and parents quit spewing hate and realize that we are all members of ‘One Human Family’. Last week a teenager committed suicide because of hateful bullying in school.
Teachers – step up and tell your pupils that it is NOT OK to bully, assault, taunt, people just because they are different. Clergy – Jesus never mentioned ‘homosexuals’, he welcomed everyone, even those with leprosy who were shunned and thrown out of their cities.
The kids today are our future; is this the type behavior you want condoned?
What in the hell is the matter with human beings? I’m a straight woman who totally understands how our brains operate and what makes us choose what we choose. I’ve been married twice, hit twice, and now live with my sister and her adult daughter. What is galling is the word “abomination” that Christians in particular do not know that the word simply means “this is not something we normally do.” I loath people who pick and chose what they are going to believe. The Tenach (Torah, Prophets and Writings of the Hebrew scriptures) cannot be understood by yanking ONE verse or part of a verse of the scriptures. For example, I can prove FROM THE BIBLE THAT THERE IS NO GOD. It says so in Psalm 14:1. Now go read it in context. Google it.
I love humanity…ALL OF HUMANITY including LGBT human beings who are my brothers and sisters. May the God of my fathers protect you from harm and instill love for all. Bless you all.