Man gets jail, probation for anti-gay hate crime attack
A Los Angeles man was convicted and sentenced to jail for making anti-gay slurs during a hate crime attack in which he repeatedly threatened a witness, authorities said Thursday.
Mario Williams, 32, was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years’ probation and ordered to attend anger management after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor hate crime count and one count of making a threat of harm.
“We will not condone hate-filled violence,” City Atty. Mike Feuer said of the case. “My office will aggressively investigate and prosecute hate crimes and bring justice to those who inflict fear on our neighborhoods.”
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo also issued a stay-away order from the victim, the witness in the case and the Chinatown library.
Williams approached the victim, a stranger standing at a bus stop near Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard on Aug. 7, and threatened to hit him while making anti-gay slurs.
As the victim tried to call 911, Williams hit the man in the head, again using derogatory slurs, according to prosecutors. A witness saw the victim being attacked and manage to rescue him from Williams.
Williams then fled the scene on a bus. A few hours later, the witness saw Williams at the Chinatown library and called police.
When police officers detained Williams, he threatened to retaliate against the witness.
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