GALVESTON, Texas — With a 20-year sentence erased because of his dyslexia, a man Friday accepted a five-year plea bargain for a hate-based attack of a gay patron at an island bar.
Alejandro Sam Gray, 19, originally was sentenced March 26 to 20 years in prison on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He and two others were accused of hurling concrete rocks at patrons of Robert’s Lafitte Bar, 2501 Ave. Q, because the patrons were gay.
Gray initially pleaded guilty before 212th District Judge Susan Criss and refused prosecutors’ offer of five years in jail because he sought deferred adjudication. Criss, however, gave Gray a 20-year sentence.
Through defense attorney Mark Stevens, Gray sought and Criss granted a new trial on grounds he suffered from dyslexia.
Stevens argued Gray was severely limited in both his ability to read court documents and to understand the situation of his initial plea with another attorney.
Criss said his sentence would have been reversed on appeal.
With visiting Judge Carolyn Johnson presiding, Gray pleaded guilty Friday to the March 1, 2009, assault of Marc Bosaw. A second count involving another patron was dismissed, prosecutor Jon Hall said.
"He pled guilty and pled true to the hate-crime enhancement that made the punishment range five to 99 years or life," Hall said. "The defendant chose the victim because of the defendant’s bias or prejudice against a group based on sexual preference."
Lawrence Henry Lewis was the first to plead guilty and also received five years in prison.
Lawrneil Henry Lewis, however, was acquitted of the same charges, despite his brother, Lawrence Lewis, testifying for the prosecution.
Bosaw said he is satisfied with the two guilty pleas. He wants Gray to learn from the situation.
"I think he’s very blessed that he only got five years and not more," Bosaw said. "I want to let people know we don’t deserve violence like this, toward any group of people."
Gray will be eligible for parole in 2½ years.
"Maybe, with good behavior, he’ll learn something and come back and become a good citizen."
