Defendant Admits Hate Crimes in Beach Attack on Two Women
A New York City man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two hate crimes in an attack on two women walking along a beach on Memorial Day.
Jeffrey Alan Ross, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor battery with a special hate crime allegation, which makes the offense a felony.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Luis Aragon said the attack on the fully clothed women on Black’s Beach was driven by the “perceived--and I want to stress perceived--sexual orientation of the victims.”
Aragon said he sought a felony conviction because of the “brazenness and outrageousness of the conduct.”
Ross also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assault based on the perceived sexual orientation of the victim.
Kayleen Stration and Anne Wilson said they were walking on the beach when Ross approached the two while yelling anti-homosexual epithets. Wilson was knocked to the ground, and Ross beat and kicked Stration as she attempted to defend herself with a backpack, they said.
“He just came at us . . . it was unprovoked,” said Stration, who noted that not one of the nearby beach-goers offered assistance to the women.
Ross, who is free on $25,000 bail, is scheduled to be sentenced June 30.
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