Hate crime charges in attack on mentally disabled man in Delaware

Three teens accused of attacking a 26 year old Newark man with a neurodevelopmental disorder face hate crime charges.

The three teens were charged earlier this month with offensive touching and assault of a vulnerable adult in connection with a video taped attack on the victim that was posted on social media. The three suspects, ages 13 and 14, are accused of repeatedly punching the unidentified victim in the head and kicking him while he screams.

After further investigation by New Castle County Police and a review of evidence from the Delaware Department of Justice, prosecutors in Attorney General Beau Biden’s office decided to file hate crime charges against the three teens.

“Targeting and assaulting a vulnerable victim is especially egregious and those who do so face significant consequences under the law,” Biden said. “It is our responsibility to protect people who cannot protect themselves.”

The teens are now facing charges including hate crime, crime against a vulnerable adult, abuse of an impaired adult, harassment and assault.

Terms of bail for the three teens will be reviewed when they are arraigned in Family Court.