Delaware man charged with hate crime for allegedly assaulting people at gay pride festival
Suspect accused of assaulting and groping festival-goers has since been released on bond
A Delaware man has been charged with a hate crime for allegedly assaulting a man at a gay pride festival and groping two others, reports WPVI-TV.
Sean Wiley, 31, was charged with three counts of offensive touching, as well as charges of third-degree assault, menacing, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, third-degree trespass, and a felony charge of resisting arrest for actions he took during the Delaware Pride Festival in Dover on Aug. 11.
According to Dover police spokesman Mark Hoffman, witnesses at the festival flagged down police, who found a 62-year-old man bleeding from a punch in the mouth. Witnesses identified Wiley as the assailant. Police say he was drunk and shouting slurs at festival attendees.
Police also determined that Wiley “had grabbed private body parts” of a 31-year-old man and 46-year-old woman at the festival. When police tried to confront him, Wiley attempted to punch an officer, and was arrested.
As the investigation progressed, police obtained a warrant for the hate crime charge. On Aug. 16, Wiley turned himself in to the Dover Police Department. Wiley has since been released on bond as he awaits trial.
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