Assault doesn’t even begin to cover what they did to this poor guy. They set him on fire! That’s downright torture!
And for what? Really, what is the big, damn deal.
Earlier in the month, we shared a heartbreaking story about a 26-year-old gay man named Burke Burnett who was ruthlessly beaten and bloodied by three dudes in Texas. Poor Burke was shown no mercy by these fools, who also stabbed him and threw him into a fire. Now, we’re hoping the same level of compassion for them as they each face charges of aggravated assault with hate crime enhancements.
The suspected assailants, James Mitchell Lasater III, Micky Joe Smith, and Daniel Shawn Martin, face a trial in the coming months, which will be detrimental to two of the guys, as they are repeat offenders. According to Texas law, aggravated assault is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. However, the hate crimes enhancements would bump up the charges, making them first-degree felonies punishable by up to life in prison.
Texas does not mess around! Here’s to justice being served!