News :: Crime

Missouri Teen Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime

Associated Press
Tuesday Oct 2, 2012
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Mercedes Ayers
Mercedes Ayers  

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A southeastern Missouri teenager has pleaded guilty to a hate crime charge in the July beating of a gay neighbor.

Prosecutors dropped a burglary charge against 17-year-old Mercedes Ayers in exchange for her plea Monday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court.

Ayers pleaded guilty to felony assault motivated by discrimination in the attack on 41-year-old Jeana Terry.

Police said Terry was inside her Cape Girardeau home when Ayers began shouting anti-gay slurs. Ayers then went to Terry’s porch with two younger children, pulled Terry outside and attacked her while making comments about her sexuality.

Terry suffered serious injuries. She’s relieved by Ayers’ plea and says she hopes the teen will be able to turn her life around and finish high school.

Ayers will be sentenced in November.

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Comments

  • Oh Jed said:, 2012-10-02 13:23:15

    Jeana Terry sounds like a wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be attacked. Still she has hope that this thug can become a productive, respectful, law-abiding member of society.


  • Anonymous, 2012-10-02 18:51:21

    These black teens are the products of poverty and horrible ignorance she needs some serious education,training and community supervision including doing some service for a local AIDS charity so she can see the effects of hate and discrimination and marginialization.now shecan see how society treats outcasts like convicts.


  • Bomonghani, 2012-10-03 00:41:18

    WTF? "these black teens"? Maybe some Anonymous individuals could benefit from some serious education, training and community supervision including doing some anti racist charity...


  • Oh Jed said:, 2012-10-03 14:55:18

    2nd the motion.


  • gdhamf, 2012-10-04 04:05:46

    Ms.Terry is a much better person than I am, I would be looking for a good 10 years to set an example, and add to that this kids parents paying any and all bills incurred by Ms. Terry including loss of income, pain etc.... It is about time the parents are held accountable for the actions of these violent kids!


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