They’ve already been sentenced to 10 years for their roles in a violent attack caught on videotape and posted online. Now, two of the attackers are expected to face additional time for beating the gay victim, but in federal prison.
Christopher Cain and Dorian Moragne, both of Atlanta, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to beating a man because of his sexual orientation, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said. It is the first case in Georgia to charge a violation of the sexual orientation section of the federal hate crimes law.
“Violence against another person because of his or her sexual orientation has no place in our civilized society,” Yates said in an emailed statement. “The citizens of this district should know that we are committed to aggressively prosecuting hate crimes.”
On Feb. 4, 2012, Cain and Moragne were part of a group of four that targeted a 20-year-old gay man as he left a grocery store in Atlanta’s Pittsburgh neighborhood. Cain, Moragne and a third person, Dareal Demare Williams, surrounded Brandon White and repeatedly punched and kicked him while a fourth person caught the violence on video.
White, who was attacked in front of a corner market at 1029 McDaniel St., was not seriously injured. Days after the attack, White spoke about the attack, but has not spoken publicly about it since.
“At first I was embarrassed,” White said Feb. 8, 2012. “But if they are willing to put it out there, I’m going to face it. I shouldn’t have to look over my shoulder just because I’m gay.”
Video footage of the attack came to the attention of police and the FBI when it was posted online, and it led to the arrest of three of those involved. The fourth suspect, Javaris Bradford, remains at large.
“The FBI remains committed to ensuring the civil rights of all individuals, to include those singled out and attacked because of their perceived differences,” said Mark F. Giuliano, FBI special agent in charge in Atlanta, in an emailed statement. “These acts of violence should be reported and aggressively investigated to ensure that we send a clear message that these actions will not be tolerated.”
Cain, Moragne and Williams were sentenced in July to serve five years behind bars, followed by five years on probation. Williams was charged as an adult in Georgia, but as a juvenile, is currently not facing federal charges, Yates' office said.
As part of a plea agreement, federal prosecutors recommended that federal and state sentences run concurrently for Cain and Moragne.
Cain is currently behind bars at Riverbend Correctional Facility in Milledgeville, and Moragne is at the Coffee Correctional Facility in Nicholls, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. Williams is incarcerated at Rogers State Prison in Reidsville.
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