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Borderstanians, I received this today from MPD Second District Acting Commander Matthew Klein:

Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Committing Gay Hate Crime in Georgetown

WASHINGTON – A 19-year-old Virginia man, Ruddad Abdulgader, pled guilty today before D.C. Superior Court Judge Harold L. Cushenberry, Jr. to two criminal counts, including Felony Assault with Bias Intent, for his role in an unprovoked hate crime attack with a bottle on a gay man in the 3400 block of M Street, NW, on October 3, 2008, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced.

Abdulgader pled guilty to one count of Felony Assault with Bias Intent and one count of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon. Because Abdulgader committed a bias crime, his maximum penalty on that charge is enhanced by District of Columbia law by 1½ times (Felony Assault carries a 3-year maximum penalty, and Felony Assault with Bias Intent carries a 4½ year maximum penalty).

In total, Abdulgader faces a maximum punishment of 5½ years incarceration, and he is likely to be sentenced according to the District of Columbia Sentencing Commission’s Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines. Abdulgader’s sentencing date has been scheduled for February 6, 2009, and he remains incarcerated pending his sentencing.

According to the Statement of Offense to which Abdulgader pled guilty, Abdulgader and another individual approached the victim and his friend, and entered into a conversation with them as to their sexual orientation. During the conversation, the victim and his friend were subjected to homophobic remarks, and they attempted to leave the area. After the victim and his friend tried to leave, Abdulgader moved ahead of them and pretended to apologize. In the middle of making an apology, with no warning or provocation, Abdulgader hit the victim in the left side of his face with a glass vodka bottle. The victim was knocked unconscious and required medical attention to deal with his injuries. Abdulgader admitted that he hit the victim in his face with the bottle based upon his prejudice against the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation.

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Taylor praised the work of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Detective Kathy Jackson, MPD Sergeant Vernon Gudger, and MPD Officers Heath Tucker, Monica Agusti, and Eric Adgerson. He also praised the work of Legal Assistant Kalisha Johnson-Clark, and Paralegal Supervisor Wanda Trice. Mr. Taylor also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal S. Chawla who investigated and is prosecuting the case.