WASHINGTON - A 19-year-old Virginia man, Ruddad Abdulgader, was sentenced to 35 months in prison today before Superior Court Judge Harold L. Cushenberry, Jr. on 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 on November 12, 2008, to one count of Felony Assault with Bias Intent and one count of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon. As a result of Abdulgader have been convicted of committing 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 4 ½ year maximum penalty). Judge Cushenberry sentenced the defendant to 30 months' incarceration on the Felony Assault with Bias Intent, and a five-month consecutive sentence for the defendant's Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, to be followed by three years of supervised probation. The judge also ordered that the defendant pay restitution to the victim for his out of cost medical expenses.

"This Office remains committed to prosecuting hate crimes vigorously, and today's result demonstrates that commitment," stated U.S. Attorney Taylor. "Hate crimes divide our community, and we will aggressively investigate and prosecute them when they occur."

According to the Statement of Offense to which Abdulgader pled guilty, Abdulgader and his friend, Saad Elorch, 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.

Abdulgader's friend, Saad Elorch, has been charged with, and pled not guilty to, separate charges of Assaulting a Police Officer and Attempted threats. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

In announcing the sentence, 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 thanked Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) for their assistance in educating the Court about the problem of hate crimes in the District of Columbia. 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 handled this case.