TEXAS
One of two Texas men indicted for his role in the beating and torture of a gay black man in 2012 in Corpus Christi plead guilty, officials announced today.
Ramiro Serrata Jr., 22, pleaded guilty in federal court in Corpus Christi to one count of conspiracy to commit hate crimes and one count of a hate crime violation based on sexual orientation.
The victim was invited by Serrata and Jimmy Garza Jr., 32, into an apartment in Corpus Christi and over a three hour period, they beat and tortured the man, sometimes using weapons.
The weapons included a frying pan, coffee mug, a belt and a chair, authorities said.
During the March 8, 2012 assault, officials said the conspirators poured a household cleaning agent or chemical solution onto the man’s face and eyes, pistol whipped him with a handgun and whipped him with a belt, according to the allegations.
While in the apartment, the defendants allegedly called the victim racial and homophobic remarks.
When the man began to bleed, the defendants allegedly forced him to remove all of his clothing and clean up the blood throughout the apartment. The indictment further alleges that after the man was completely naked, the defendants sodomized him using a broom or mop and another unknown object, according to officials.
Serrata acknowledged that throughout the assault, the conspirators repeatedly called the victim racial and homophobic slurs and made other anti-black and anti-gay statements.
The conspirators also prevented the man from leaving the apartment by physical force and threats of force. The victim eventually escaped the apartment by jumping out of a window.
Serrata will be sentenced on Dec. 9. He is facing up to 15 years in prison.
Garza is also charged with related hate crimes in connection to this offense.
His trial is scheduled for Sept. 29. He has pleaded not guilty, and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.