Guilty Plea, Sentence Reduction for TX Teen Behind Attack at Gay Bar

One of the teenagers accused of throwing concrete blocks at patrons of a Galveston, Texas gay bar had his 20-year sentence reduced and accepted a 5-year plea bargain. The reason behind reducing the sentence for the March 2009 attack?

Because 19-year-old Alejandro Sam Gray is dyslexic, reports KHOU.

Gray, 19, originally was sentenced March 26 to 20 years in prison on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He and two others were accused of hurling concrete rocks at patrons of Robert’s Lafitte Bar, 2501 Ave. Q, because the patrons were gay. Gray initially pleaded guilty before 212th District Judge Susan Criss and refused prosecutors’ offer of five years in jail because he sought deferred adjudication. Criss, however, gave Gray a 20-year sentence.

Through defense attorney Mark Stevens, Gray sought and Criss granted a new trial on grounds he suffered from dyslexia. Stevens argued Gray was severely limited in both his ability to read court documents and to understand the situation of his initial plea with another attorney. Criss said his sentence would have been reversed on appeal. Gray pleaded guilty Friday to the March 1, 2009, assault of Marc Bosaw. A second count involving another patron was dismissed, prosecutor Jon Hall said.

Gray was 17 when he was involved in the March 1, 2009, assault at Robert’s Lafitte bar. He and two other men were accused of throwing concrete blocks at two patrons. One man was hit in the head with and needed 12 stitches, reports The Galveston Daily News. Another teen, Lawrence Henry Lewis plead guilty and also received five years. However: Lawrneil Henry Lewis was acquitted of the same charges despite brother Lawrence Lewis testifying for the prosecution.

Gray will be eligible for parole in 2½ years.

Being dyslexic and/or illiterate didn't stop him from hurling concrete and random strangers, right?

Comments

[elektrick.red]

Chunking bricks at innocent folks don't require reading.

[Taveeon]

I will be highly, Highly, HIGHLY disappointed in the GLBT community of Houston & Galveston if they don’t protest like HELL !!!! 1 fifteen year reduction because of Dyslexia? Are you serious?
Since when did Dyslexia impair his judgment to throw concrete rocks at GLBT on purpose?
I swear these court cases and their “technicalities” makes people like myself have no faith whatsoever in the justice system. There is a very large GLBT population in Houston and I hope they act swiftly and loudly because that makes entirely no sense whatsoever.

[Cocoa Rican]

So if he gets beaten to a pulp upon his release by the gay community we can plead ADD or some other irrelevant condition?

[Michelle]

How ridiculous can things get! As electrick.red says I'm pretty sure you don't need to be able to read to throw a brick. Are they trying to imply by him being dsylexic that he couldn't comprehend that being violent towards gays was wrong? I really would like to hear the full reasoning for this.

[DT]

Slap on the wrist in Texas to teach US not them us a lesson; us getting attacked for our sexuality is a none issue. What in the hell does is lack of reading ability have to do with throwing bricks at and assaulting innocent people minding their business? Priceless... I know now if I attack someone in Texas (not that I would) I'll just claim my near sightedness to get off...