SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - A teenager yesterday admitted that he took part in attacks on several men after they left July's gay pride festival in Balboa Park.The 15-year-old pleaded guilty in Juvenile Court to three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and hate crime allegations. He also admitted he caused great bodily injury to one of the victims.
He faces a possible sentence of up to 13 years in the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Division of Juvenile Justice, formerly known as the California Youth Authority. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 4.
Because of the guilty pleas, the boy avoided possible prosecution in adult court, where he could have been sent to prison for up to 15 years if convicted.
Deputy District Attorney Oscar Garcia has said the boy was one of four people accused in connection with the attacks on six men as they were leaving San Diego's 32nd annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Festival. The men were assaulted July 29 about 10:45 p.m. on the park's Redwood Circle east of Sixth Avenue, authorities said.
Garcia said the youth participated in the attacks with two men after the trio decided to go out and rob people to get drugs. The prosecutor said the teen “stomped” on one victim's head and neck and that he kicked and beat other victims.
The assailants wielded a baseball bat and a knife and yelled anti-gay slurs, Garcia said. One victim had his skull broken, another was stabbed in the back.
Prosecutors are expected to present evidence against the others facing charges during a preliminary hearing scheduled for tomorrow in San Diego Superior Court.
One of the accused, James Carroll, 24, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and faces up to 24 years in prison. Both he and Lyonn Tatum, 18, are charged with assault with a deadly weapon and hate crimes.
Kenneth Lincoln, 23, is accused of being an accessory after the fact.
from The San Diego Union
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