Philadelphia hate crime assailants (from PGN Twitter feed)
After a string of unsolved gay bashings in Oak Lawn, it’s nice to know that the perpetrators of a hate crime in Philadelphia were caught. What’s disturbing to many in the city is the punishment for two of the three.
According to Philadelphia Gay News, two men and a woman were arrested for the Sept. 11, 2014 attack that left one man with multiple facial fractures and a broken jaw. While attacking him, one of the assailants asked, “Is that your fucking boyfriend?” and called him “dirty faggot.”
After their arrest, they were charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy and could have been sentenced to 10 years in jail.
The two men took a plea deal that lets them off without jail time. They will have to perform 200 hours of community service at an LGBT organization. They will have to pay restitution of $314 and $627. One got three years probation, the other five and both will be prohibited from entering Center City, an area where most of the gay bars are located, during their probation.
The victims said they were satisfied with the negotiated deal.
The woman charged in the case pleaded not guilty and will go to trial.
The two male assailants apologized to the victims in court.
The case prompted the city of Philadelphia to pass a hate crime law that includes fines and up to 90 days in jail.
Comments on the PGN story range from “I hope you fuck up your probation and go to jail” to one encouraging the LGBT community to carry guns. The reaction indicates the community isn’t happy with the outcome.
There are few clues and little progress made in the Dallas cases. Chances are a Texas jury would impose a harsher penalty.
