Police: Three NM men beat 18-year-old gay man to 'scare him straight'

[Maven]

State police are investigating the beating of an 18-year-old gay man and his female friend as a hate crime.

At the request of the victim’s family, Eyewitness News 4 isn’t releasing his name.

State police say the man met some friends at a Moriarty park and went to a party at an Edgewood home.

People at the party harassed the man because he was gay, police say, so he tried to leave with his friend when the two were attacked.

“He was kicked about the head and body and punched and slapped,” said Lt. Rick Anglada with state police. “He was then walked back to a camper trailer at the residence, where they locked him up inside the trailer.”

An arrest warrant said the man was beaten until the sun rose the next day.

Anglada said the attackers told the man “they were going to scare him straight.” more second article

The victim's family has received threats since the attack.

[Lerkfish]

1. what is WRONG with people?

this is very disturbing.

[gorbal]

39. There were other people at the party too...

What gets me the most is that their we apparantly other people at the party who knew what was going on. Check out this excerpt form the second article

“When others left the party and one of the suspects fell asleep is when the victim says he was able to get a phone and call his mother,” State Police Lt. Rick Anglada said. “His mother came and picked him up and took him to the hospital.”

I guess the investigation is open and their may be some more arrests.

Poor guy:(

[LiberalFighter]

57. Were they really trying to beat him straight or did they want to really...

express their true sexual orientation and afraid to act it out?

They had their nightsticks which is an extension of their phallic organ. Someone should write a LTE about how the cops wanted the gay guy to touch their phallic organ (night stick).

[zreosumgame]

62. wel the good news is

these morans will learn all about their sexuality in a cell when they become some guys bitch and get 'pounded' themselves every night...

[Susang]

66. ?????

What cops? What nightsticks? The articles I read said the guy was beated by two teenagers and a 21 year old, not cops with nightsticks. So I'm not exactly clear on what you're talking about. :shrug:

[ThomCat]

2. I doubt they have any idea just how much damage they've done.

x(

That kid is going to have both physical and psychological scars from something like this.

Why the hell didn't anyone call the police while this was happening? Where the fuck were all the other peple at this "party?"

I hope a lot of people end up in jail for this, and I hope that kid sues them half to death.

[lonestarnot]

3. Oh sure that will fix it. If they can't see it your way, just torture or

beat 'em to death. Yeah that will work. hmmmmf :sarcasm:

[China_cat]

14. Why not? That's the way our gov't. does it.

[Auntie Bush]

63. LOL

And so TRUE! It's like beating and punching your kid for getting into a fight. "I told you it's wrong to beat people up just because you don't approve of them. I'm gong to teach you some manners.Take that! and that!" That will learn them. Good Christian values and discipline at work.

[rodeodance]

4. oh my gawd! How horrible. This 'hate mentality" is sprouting up in many

places.

[rodeodance]

5. this was not a hit and run attach--but sustained:

.....An arrest warrant said the man was beaten until the sun rose the next day.

[AndyA]

6. The attackers should be treated the same way, to see how they like it.

No doubt they are all God-fearing Christian Republicans, who are just helping make sure everybody else is just like them, because that's the way God wants it to be. :puke:

[lumpy]

11. They are not certainly not Christian and doubt if they

even know what a Republican is. More likely they are the newest generation of young American thugs who live by the bottle, the macho creed, lay around aimlessly floating through life.

[Bill McBlueState]

20. no, they're quite likely to be Christian.

77% of Americans are Christian, so if you're going to guess what religion they are, the odds are that they're Christian.

http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#religions

But I don't see why it matters; there are hateful bastards worshipping every god.

[pokercat999]

56. The attackers should be locked up and used

as prison "bitches".....just until the sun comes up. Now that would be justice pure and simple. Hell it might just make them gay. :pals: :sarcasm:

[lumpy]

7. Nothing like booze and knuckle sandwiches

to liven up a party. Hope the little freaks enjoy their stay in the big house.

[bumblebee1]

18. Yea, man.

Bubba's going to turn you freaks into his b*tches.

[DIKB]

49. hmm

As much as I detest making light of prison-rape (cruel and inhumane, imo) I can't help but see the irony.

Assault and battery, and a hate-crime on top of that, you can't say they don't deserve it.

[bronxiteforever]

8. who would Jesus punch, slap and kick?

"the man was beaten until the sun rose the next day".How sick is that? Chills your blood. This is the real fruit of hate. Men becoming evil, violent and arrogant bullies. May the young man and his friend recover and find compassion and care.

[Warpy]

9. Yeah, right, it was for his own good

and the gay bashers didn't enjoy it a bit. They were just trying to save his soul, right?

I hope they throw the book at those drunken jerks.

This stuff just sickens me.

[MaineDem]

10. The stupidity and hatred of some people continue to amaze me!

How sad!

[mbperrin]

12. OK, let me get this straight (pun intended).

These men locked themselves into a trailer and spent the night with a gay man?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...........

[Puglover]

13. Mark my words,

these knuckledraggers will use the "he came onto us" defense. And probably get lite sentences if any.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

30. unless daddy is a GOP bigwig. Then, a slap on the wrist

if that.

[xchrom]

15. ...

:nuke: :grr: :nuke:

[tanyev]

16. Oh, they might have some real bad karma coming out of this.

Especially if they get jail time.

[longship]

17. Three NM thugs locked in prison to scare them tolerant.

nt

[flvegan]

19. What happened to the female friend?

It says that HE was taken back to a trailer and locked up (the other story alleges he was tied up). It doesn't say what happened to her. If she was also held against her will, that should bring additional charges. However, if she was allowed to leave and yet didn't report this to somebody, then there's something wrong there.

What I also don't get is why it always seems to be 2 or 3 or 4 (or more) big, strong "men" beating up a gay man. Basically, what these thugs are saying is that they can't just have it one on one...maybe for fear of losing.

[hootinholler]

41. Absolutely. Additionally everyone at the party who knew of this

Is an accessory/accomplice if they did nothing to stop or report the crime.

-Hoot

[ThomCat]

44. Yes, and should be charged.

:grr:

[KamaAina]

21. How long should we put those thugs in jail to "scare them smart"?

Sounds like that would take a mighty long time...

[Ex Lion Tamer]

32. No, we should beat them until they're gay.

Nice little pickle they'd find themselves in.

[sofa king]

36. I think they already are. Just beat 'em until they figure it out.

[ThomCat]

45. We don't want them.

They can be straight. Really.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

60. If you take 'em, we'll also give you Tom Cruise and Heath Ledger . . .

Actually, my point--which I'm sure you got--is that we don't choose our sexuality. They couldn't "convert" to homosexuality even at the threat of beatings, so the beatings would have to continue. Of they could fake a conversion, which would probably be even more torturous for two homophobes like that!!!!!

[EFerrari]

22. Is there a hate crime index somewhere? I'd like to see what

the numbers have been since the Republicans have catapulted their propaganda.

This blood is on their hands.

[EFerrari]

23. From the SPL on FBI's hate crime stats:

Report: FBI Hate Crime Statistics Vastly Understate Problem

snip

According to the new report, hate crimes involve violence far more often than other crimes. The data showed 84% of hate crimes were violent, meaning they involved a sexual attack, robbery, assault or murder. By contrast, just 23% of non-hate crimes involved violence. Other studies have suggested that hate-motivated violence, especially against homosexuals, is more extreme than other violence.

The report also showed that 56% of hate crime victims identified race as the primary factor in the crimes they reported. Ethnicity accounted for another 29% of the total. Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation were 18% of the total. Given that the best studies indicate about 3% of the American population is homosexual, that means that gays and lesbians are victimized at six times the overall rate.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=586

[Maven]

24. I think 3% is a pretty low estimate.

But thanks for posting this data. I think it provides a very clear, non-sociological rationale for punishing hate crimes more severely.

[EFerrari]

26. The FBI has pdf files that are slow loading, and according

to the SPL, they underestimate the number of crimes committed each year.

If I find anything better, I'll post it. I want to see the numbers from 2002 until the present. FBI only has reports out to 2003, so it will have to be some other source.

[DIKB]

50. I thought it was 10%

not accounting for the ones who are in denial, or the "converted."

[Blaze Diem]

25. Seem to hear about hate crimes more & more every week..

gays, children, racial, religeous, gender, ...but when you hear the hateful rant of people such as Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh, daily doses of this equals less and less tolerance for many people.

Hate mongers like these two, for instance, incites violence by damn near giving people 'permission' to commit crimes in the name of hate alone.

I'm so sick of it.
This story makes me ill.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bretttido]

33. The blood isn't "literally" on their hands

But they help breed this kind of hate and have megaphones for the hate to infect easy influenced minds such as these.

[EFerrari]

34. Welcome to DU, Black Sunshine.

And, no, I'm not a moran.

:hi:

[Maven]

38. Please don't address sfexpat that way.

And welcome to DU.

[Black Sunshine]

47. Oh... ok

I won't then. :)

[Gregorian]

27. A testament to the sickness of Americans.

There is a sickness. Why, I don't know. Especially since we are a diverse culture. I honestly think that quite a large number of Americans are unable to handle diversity.

Again, it's lack of sophistication. Lack of caring. Lack of intelligence.

We're reaping the benefits of being a lazy, close minded society. We had better start putting money and value on education, or else. I personally don't think it's going to happen. And I think we are just beginning our downward spiral. It's sick.

[zonkers]

29. Hate crimes against gays is sick but nothing new. I'm just glad this is

getting the coverage it deserves. I do not necessarily think we are beginning a downward spiral.

[EFerrari]

46. Hi there, friend.

I have a theory that bigotry and hatred are a vital tool in the New Republican toolkit. And I saw New Republican because my dad is one of those Old Republicans, and he'd never in life be able to entertain these thoughts, let alone, act on them.

I hope I'm wrong, but suggest we buckle up anyway. :(

[Gregorian]

61. Just be glad you live in SF.

Having grown up near there, and now "experiencing" the other side, I'm much less than optimistic. It's some kind of devolution. I blame the media for giving the people to accept their hatreds, and for supporting the agendas of the evil. I took empathy and careful thinking for granted. I thought everyone was on the same basic page. The New Republican. Maybe there will be a new enlightenment. I never give up. Well, I better go have another espresso. My cats are waiting outside in the sun. And so are the bumble bees. Don't ever loose sight of the beauty that exists, no matter what is happening.



edit- Hm. Some grammar may be lacking in the above statement. :)

[Black Sunshine]

31. Quick question

Do you all think hate crimes should be punished more harshly than non-hate crimes?

[RandomKoolzip]

35. Wow. Someone prepared to argue the "good side" of hate crimes.

Awesome. Fire away...I'd love to hear how beating up or killing a gay person is a good thing. I'm all ears.

Lemme just get some of my bear friends over here first so they can witness this, 'kay?

[Der Blaue Engel]

37. Which one are you planning to commit?

Why don't you just tell us what YOU all think. I'm sure WE all would be fascinated.

[EFerrari]

40. Sure. We'd get a bunch of Republican haters behind bars

where they belong. With their fake Christianity and their fake family values and their fake support the troops from their mother's basement. Might prevent sex offenses, too, while we're at it. Gosh, it seems like there isn't a week that goes by without some Republican being caught abusing a child.

Why not. I don't see a down side.

[Black Sunshine]

48. Wow, not one person willing to answer my question

It's a simple question yes or no. I don't see any logic or reasoning behind punishing hate crimes more than non-hate crimes. There's simply no justification for punishing someone differently when the end result is the same.

[Sapphocrat]

51. I'm more than willing to answer it.

But unless you have had a loved one get the shit kicked out of him/her for being gay, black, Hispanic, Asian, transgendered, and/or simply female, I could explain to you all day long why the "end result" is definitely not the same, and you'd never understand.

[Throd]

55. I'm kinda torn on the issue

I got the crap kicked out of me 18 years ago by about 5 guys. I don't know what their motivation was. Frankly, I don't care. The act, in and of itself, was a hate crime regardless of whatever "reason" they had.

[mitchtv]

67. Let me ask you

Is tagging private property, the same result as painting a swastika on a synagogue? answer: two different crimes one is vandalism , one is a hate crime = apples and oranges

[AlienGirl]

52. Do we punish intentional murder more harshly than manslaughter?

The legal system considers motive and intent all the time. It's why someone who plans to murder a specific person, puts lots of thought into it, and goes about the killing methodically faces a different charge from someone who walks in on a cheating spouse and goes bonkers and shoots the "fling."

Why, then, should we not draw distinctions based on intent and premeditation when it comes to crimes that are motivated by bigotry rather than by personal animosity, greed, or jealousy?

Tucker

[DIKB]

54. Great argument n/t

[DIKB]

53. Hmmm

I like this question, I could write for a while about it.

In the sense that all crimes are crimes of hatred, to some degree or another, it seems stupid to support harsher punishment for hate crimes. However, shared prejudices allow for a pack mentality. As this situation demonstrates, even people with homosexual family members might be drawn in.

Your question would be better phrased as such:
Should active prejudice and racism that incites people to harm others be given special penalties?

I say, "Yes." At the very least as a crime deterrent. Hopefully it makes others less likely to get drawn into the pack mentality. We can't stop people from hating others, whatever their reasons, however we can try to prevent them from acting on it.

[IndyBob]

64. Hate Crimes

Should be dealt with more sever ly. As someone pointed out, intent is a consideration when a crime is punished.

A clear example:

Tagging the side of a train with graffiti - vandalism. Punishable as a general destructive act, but not a hate crime. The victim is the owner of the property.

Painting a swastika on the door of a synagogue - beyond vandalism. Punishable as a crime against an entire group of people, the Jews in this case. No longer just one victim, but millions. Definitely a hate crime, and deserving of much harsher punishment.

[zreosumgame]

65. they are by definition terrorist in nature

so you seem to believe terrorists should not be singled out for extra penalties? boy, dumbaya wants you in Gitmo for re-education.

[Tight_rope]

42. Hatred....A norm that the Bush Administration lives by.

They spread it like they spread freedom. With grave pain.

[EFerrari]

43. It's their WD40, isn't it?

:kick:

[wickerwoman]

58. Isn't this kidnapping as well?

If they locked him in a trailer for hours and didn't let him leave, how is it not kidnapping as well as assault?

[Infomaniac]

59. I don't know NM criminal statutes

but I agree there should be a kidnapping-like charge brought against whomever kept this poor guy locked up someplace against his will. I think the charge in NYS would be 2nd degree kidnapping or unlawful restraint. Both are felonies with mandatory jail time. I'd like to see these assholes charged with whatever results in the most jail time. I sleep better at night knowing hate-filled people like this are in jail.

[Kat45]

68. Yes, that's one of the charges. From the second article:

"All three face charges of kidnapping, aggravated battery and false imprisonment.
The district attorney said he will seek hate-crime enhancements against the three which could mean an extra year on a sentence if convicted"

[JerseygirlCT]

69. This is horrifying. What are the chances these thugs will

be sent away for a long time -- so they can be scared straight themselves?

[6000eliot]

70. Anti gay violence tends to be especially vicious.

[sakabatou]

71. These are the people who think if themselves

as the "true" Christians. Sickos.