A young Illinois man is facing felony charges after he allegedly made derogatory remarks about a woman’s sexual orientation and then injured her in a fight at a McDonald’s in Carpentersville. The 19-year-old man allegedly had a juvenile with him, who is being charged in juvenile court. The two males apparently made anti-LGBTQ remarks toward the woman before the confrontation escalated into violence. Prosecutors are reviewing the facts and circumstances to determine whether hate crime charges are warranted.
Facing allegations of a hate crime in Illinois is a serious matter. If convicted of a hate crime, you could face long-term legal and personal consequences. Hate crimes are felonies that carry enhanced penalties because they target individuals based on protected characteristics. These protected characteristics could include race, religion, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation.