Man charged with hate crime in assault on two gay men

A Central Islip man used anti-gay epithets while beating and kicking two men early Friday morning, then told police he would do it again, Suffolk authorities said. Wenzola Rountree, 31, was charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment after he approached three openly gay men walking out of a friend's home on Earle Street in Central Islip at 1:15 a.m. Friday, said Det. Sgt. Robert Reecks of the Hate Crimes Unit. Rountree yelled anti-gay slurs and punched and kicked two of the men, causing cuts, scrapes and bruises, Reecks said. One victim had a swollen eye and needed nine stitches, police said. "He was attacking them because of their sexual orientation," Reecks said. Tonya Jackson, who lives in the neighborhood, said the men fought for about 20 minutes. "We heard some shouting, some screaming . . . and I came outside and I heard a lot of cussing - 'Get the hell off me, let me go,' " she said. "I heard somebody say 'Call the police, call the police.' " The two victims were treated at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and released, police said. The third person was not hurt. Rountree pleaded not guilty and was held on $50,000 bail Friday at First District Court in Central Islip. Rountree's Legal Aid attorney, Michael Petruzziello, questioned the hate-crime charge, saying Rountree could not have known whether his victims were gay. "I think it's a very weak case," he said. Prosecutor Jonathan Manley said Rountree told police he would attack the victims again if he could. Judge Stephen Behar ordered Rountree not to make contact with the victims. In a statement released by Suffolk police, County Executive Steve Levy said, "Attacks on an individual or individuals simply due to their sexuality are not tolerated in Suffolk County, and the perpetrator will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the applicable laws." - With staff writer Erik Badia