LONG BEACH – An ex-Marine suspected of attacking two men outside a gay bar in Long Beach is awaiting extradition on a felony warrant charging him with the September hate crime attack, the District Attorney’s Office has announced.
John Kelly O’Leary, 21 (dob 10-6-91), was arrested Monday night by Evergreen Park Police in Illinois, said Deputy District Attorney Gretchen Ford, assigned to the Hate Crimes Unit.
The felony complaint for arrest warrant was filed on April 5 charges O’Leary with one felony count each of battery with serious bodily injury and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury. The complaint alleges a hate crime. He’s being held on $105,000 bail.
The incident took place outside of The Silver Fox, one of the most popular businesses that is frequented by the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Transgender community in Long Beach.
Long Beach Police, who investigated the incident, say he will be brought back to Los Angeles sometime next week for arraignment. O’Leary waived extradition during an Illinois court appearance on Tuesday.
O’Leary, who was 20 at the time of the alleged assault, went to the popular gay bar on Redondo Avenue
The Silver Fox is one of the most popular night spots in Long Beach.
with several friends in the early morning hours of Sept. 3, 2012. At closing time, O’Leary allegedly began shouting anti-gay slurs outside the bar.
Following a verbal exchange with one of two alleged victims, O’Leary allegedly turned and began punching the first alleged victim as he continued to shout anti-gay slurs. The victim, who suffered a concussion and a fractured hip during the altercation, was knocked unconscious.
As others joined in to break up the fight, O’Leary allegedly began punching and choking a second male victim before police arrived.
Three other Marines arrested at the time with O’Leary were not charged.
If convicted, O’Leary faces up to eight years in state prison.
