{"id":20525,"date":"2016-02-17T18:44:43","date_gmt":"2016-02-18T02:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=20525"},"modified":"2016-02-17T18:44:43","modified_gmt":"2016-02-18T02:44:43","slug":"two-sentenced-beating-torturing-black-gay-man-news-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=20525","title":{"rendered":"Two Sentenced for Beating and Torturing Black Gay Man (News Videos)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0TEXAS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Courtroom\"A federal judge today sentenced two Texas men \u00a0for the beating and torture of\u00a0a gay black man in 2012 in Corpus Christi, officials announced today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ramiro\u00a0Serrata\u00a0Jr<\/strong>., 23, and Jimmy Garza<\/strong>, 33, were each sentenced to 15 years in prison following their convictions of hate crime offenses for their roles in a Mar. 8, 2012, assault of a gay African-American man in Corpus Christi, Texas, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

In handing down the sentence, \u00a0officials said Judge Hayden Head commented that the defendants had abandoned their humanity to the viciousness of animals, adding that not only must the defendants be punished for their behavior, but that it must send a message that this type of behavior won\u2019t be tolerated in a civilized society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both men were also ordered to pay $10,800 in restitution, serve three years of supervised release and register as sex offenders.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two plead guilty in September 2015, to one count of conspiracy to commit hate crimes and one count of a hate crime violation of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crime Act for causing bodily injury because of the victim\u2019s sexual orientation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe protection of all individuals from acts of violence based on their rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States will always be a priority in this judicial district,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.\u00a0 \u201cThis case represents that commitment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The victim was invited by Serrata and\u00a0Jimmy Garza Jr., 32,\u00a0into an apartment in Corpus Christi and over a three hour period, they beat and tortured the man, sometimes using weapons.<\/span><\/p>\n

The weapons included a frying pan, coffee mug, a belt and a chair, authorities said.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the 2012 assault, officials said the conspirators poured a household cleaning agent or chemical solution onto the man\u2019s face and eyes and pistol whipped him with a handgun.<\/span><\/p>\n

The defendants also admitted that they repeatedly whipped the victim with a belt while calling him a \u201cslave\u201d and making other references to slavery.<\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The conspirators also prevented the man from leaving the apartment by physical force and threats of force.\u00a0 The victim eventually escaped the apartment by jumping out of a window.<\/span><\/p>\n

A third defendant, Carlos Garcia Jr.<\/strong>, plead guilty on Jan. 5, 2016, to one count of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer.\u00a0 Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22 and is facing up to five years in prison.<\/span>
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