Teen Charged With Hate Crime Gets Probation, Community Service
CHICAGO (CBS) -- One of three teens charged with a hate crime for making derogatory statements and threatening a man near Millennium Park last summer was sentenced to two years' probation on Wednesday.
Mack Heard, 17, must also serve 75 hours of community service and undergo drug testing after pleading guilty to one felony count of hate crime, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said.
Heard, of the 5000 block of Harvard Lane in Richton Park, was charged along with 18-year-old Kendrick Towner of the 5200 block of Deana Lane in Richton Park; and a 14-year-old boy.
The victim called police about 8 p.m. on July 7 after the three accosted him in the 100 block of North Michigan Avenue at Millennium Station.
"They harassed him and used derogatory remarks; they threatened him,'' police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala said. "Their comments were in violation of the hate crime statute.''
Police would not confirm reports the comments were anti-gay in nature.
The victim was not physically harmed, and he contacted police as the three fled.
When officers arrived, the victim gave them a description and police apprehended the three shortly afterwards in the 600 block of North Michigan.
Towner is set for a bench trial on Jan. 19, Conklin said. Court information for the juvenile was not immediately available.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2011. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
