Staten Island Man
Charged With Hate Crime

A man in Staten Island, N.Y. was arrested on hate-crime charges after allegedly attacking a gay man. James Champagne, 24, allegedly hit the unidentified 27-year-old victim with an object as well as punching him while calling him a homophobic slur, according to the Staten Island Advance.

The suspect was arrested on Monday and arraigned on Tuesday on charges of third-degree assault as a hate crime, which is a felony, and second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor. He faces up to four years in prison for the hate-crime charge if convicted. (The Advocate)