Trump-inspired brothers plead guilty to beating homeless immigrant
BOSTON -- Two Boston brothers who claimed to be inspired in part by Donald Trump's views on immigrants were sentenced to state prison after admitting they beat a homeless Mexican man because they thought he was an illegal immigrant, authorities said.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said Scott Leader, 38, and Steven Leader, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to indictments charging them with causing bodily injury while committing a civil rights violation, assault and battery for purposes of intimidation causing bodily injury, two counts each of assault and battery and two counts each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Suffolk Superior Court Judge Peter Krupp sentenced Scott Leader to three years in prison and Steven Leader to 2 ½ years behind bars, with both sentences followed by three years of probation. Krupp also ordered them to serve 20 hours of community service and complete a cultural diversity training program.
"This unprovoked attack on a sleeping man disgusted every prosecutor, victim advocate, and trooper who worked on it," said Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley. "State prison was the only appropriate sentence."
The brothers admitted to urinating on the man as he slept outside of a Dorchester commuter transit stop in August 2015, then beating him with a pole, punching and kicking him.
Prior to sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Rimar read a statement from the victim.
"I still feel pain all over my body from this incident. I don't think my fingers will ever be the same," the victim, then 58, wrote. "I came to this country many years ago and worked hard in the farm fields to provide produce to people here. I actually became a permanent resident of this country years ago, although if I had been undocumented I still would not have deserved to be beaten this way."
The victim was treated for a broken nose, serious bruising across his torso and other injuries.
State police identified the suspects with the help of witnesses.
One of the brothers later told police that Trump "was right" about deporting "all these illegals," according to a police report.
The GOP front-runner has denounced the attack.
"Boston incident is terrible. We need energy and passion, but we must treat each other with respect," Trump tweeted. "I would never condone violence."