Ex-marine John O’Leary, who was charged last week for felony charges in what is being called a potential hate crime, pled not guilty in his appearance at court yesterday. The 21-year-old faces up to 8 years in prison for his involvement in a physical altercation outside the Silver Fox last year.
April 11 | Of the four U.S. Marines involved in a bar fight outside the Silver Fox, only one of them is being arrested and formally charged with two felony counts, one of which is a hate crime allegation.
21-year-old ex-Lance Cpl. John O’Leary, dishonorably discharged last October from service, was arrested Monday night outside a family residence in Chicago suburb Evergreen Park after Long Beach Police Department issued a felony complaint for his arrest on April 5.
Lance Cpl. Lewis Serna, Pfc. Thomas Pentek, and Pfc. Sean Miller will not face any charges and still remain active within the corps.
On September 3 of last year, the four marines entered popular gay bar Silver Fox near Redondo and 4th. Though multiple and conflicting stories remain about what occurred precisely inside, a fight broke out between two bar patrons and the marines in the streets after the bar had closed.
One of those patrons was supposedly attacked by O’Leary and left in a state of unconsciousness. Regaining consciousness when medics and police arrived, the victim was sent to the hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
If convicted, O’Leary could face up to 8 years in prison. He is currently being held on $105,000 bail in Evergreen Park before being extradited to Long Beach.
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