ABQjournal: 3 More Indicted In Gay Man’s Beating By Jeremy Pawloski, Journal Staff Writer

Deputy District Attorney Shari Weinstein, who presided over defendant Isaia Medina’s arraignment Friday in District Court, said Maestas suffered a broken nose, facial injuries, a concussion and lung injuries from “aspirating on his own blood” when he lost consciousness during the attack. …

Weinstein said in court that Medina was the “most culpable” of the six males charged in the beating, and that Medina, by his own admission, “straddled the victim” as he repeatedly punched Maestas in the face. …

Medina’s sister, Brandie Ulibarri, 26, said outside court that her brother “never starts fights” and that it hurts her when the issue of him being prejudiced against gays, or anyone else, comes up.

“He has lots of bisexual, gay and lesbian friends, so I don’t think that’s the issue with him,” she said.

But Weinstein said during the hearing that all of the defendants psyched each other up in the car ride to La Quinta, exhorting one another to “(mess) up the faggots.”

The three men newly charged in connection with Maestas’ beating are:
Joseph Cano, 18;
Jonathan Valdez, 20; and
Paul Montoya, 20, all of Santa Fe.

Each is charged with one count each of aggravated battery, conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and criminal damage to property.

Previously charged in the case:
Isaia Medina;
David Trinidad, 17;
Gabriel Maturin, 20.

Trinidad is charged in his indictment with one count each of aggravated battery, battery, conspiracy and criminal damage to property. The District Attorney’s Office has said it intends to seek adult sanctions against Trinidad although he is 17.

All six men charged in the beating that put James Maestas, 21, in the intensive care unit at St. Vincent Hospital for over a week will be prosecuted under New Mexico’s “hate crimes” statute, the state Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.

[previous related entry: mjh’s Blog: Evil Among Us]