Hate crime charges expected in gay man's beating

By Christian Boone
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The lawyer for Dorian Moragne, one of four men charged in the Feb. 4 videotaped assault of a gay man outside a southwest Atlanta convenience store, has been informed his client will be prosecuted under a federal hate crimes statute.

The trial of Moragne and the other three defendants -- Javaris Bradford, Christopher Cain and Dareal Demare Williams -- started Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court but may not reach a jury. Moragne -- charged with robbery, aggravated assault and participating in criminal gang activity -- pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date, said his attorney, Jay Abt. Williams has also pleaded guilty, and the other two are also considering plea deals.

Meanwhile, federal charges loom, according to Abt.

"They flew a lawyer down here personally to inform us," said Abt, who has previously stated the attack on Brandon White was "not a hate crime."

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is awaiting confirmation from a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, though federal officials typically do not comment on such cases until charges are filed. Abt said he assumes Moragne's three co-defendants will also be charged by federal officials, who've been investigating the case since February. The other three men are represented by public defenders who could not be reached for comment.

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