GEORGIA: Anti-Gay Hate Crime Guilty Plea Is First In State History

Two Georgia men have pleaded guilty to hate crime charges in the beating of a gay man. The case is the first anti-gay federal hate crime conviction in state history. Under a plea arrangement, the hate crime charges will not result in added prison time. Via Project Q Atlanta:

Christopher Cain and Dorian Moragne—two of the four men who beat Brandon White during an attack in southwest Atlanta on Feb. 4, 2012—were sentenced to 10 years in prison, with five years to serve, during a trial in Fulton County Superior Court last July. Under a plea agreement announced Thursday, the men will also serve a concurrent sentence on the federal hate crime charge.

Cain and Moragne admitted to violating the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was expanded in 2009 to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity. Yates said the hate crimes convictions based on sexual orientation are a first in Georgia. The state’s hate crimes law was scrapped by the Georgia Supreme Court in 2004.

(Tipped by JMG reader Todd)