Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 16:04:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rex Wockner <rwockner@netcom.com>
Subject: San Diego Basher sentenced

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Copyright (c) 1995 Gay & Lesbian Times. All rights reserved.
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Man Sentenced In Kickers Gay-Bashing
Strong Support For Victim From Gays
by Rex Wockner

SAN DIEGO -- One of the two adults charged in the severe gay-bashing
outside Kickers March 24 was sentenced July 14.

	James Randall DeLong, 20, of Santee, was sent to prison for
evaluation under Penal Code section 1203.03. Under that statute,
after three months, psychiatrists will either determine that
DeLong is a threat to society and should remain jailed or that he
likely can be rehabilitated and should be released on probation.

	"It's [a] good [sentence] because we thought this defendant
would get probation automatically," said Deputy District Attorney
Teresa Santana, who prosecuted the case. "The question that will
be answered is, 'Is he a danger to society or can he be granted
probation?'"

	DeLong had pleaded guilty to assault with force likely to
produce great bodily injury (with the allegations that he
inflicted great bodily injury and that it was a hate crime) and
to conspiracy to commit a felony.

	Sentencing of DeLong's adult accomplice in the bashing,
Leonard Schweitzer, 22, of Alpine, has been postponed to Aug. 4
because of a delay in getting a probation report to his lawyer.

	There were also three minors arrested in the case. One, a
16-year-old male, was acquitted. A 14-year-old male and a 17-year-
old male were scheduled to be sentenced July 20, which was after
the Gay & Lesbian Times went to press.

	The victim of the bashing, Gilbert March of Anaheim, has
mounted a public campaign for stiff sentences in the case. As a
result, 40 gays showed up in Superior Court Judge Harvey Hiber's
courtroom July 14 and more than 100 have sent him letters,
according to the bailiff.

	"The courtroom was packed," prosecutor Santana said. "And
there was a huge stack of letters. They made a big difference
with the judge."

	The bashing occurred on Third Avenue beside Kickers, the gay
country & western dance bar in Hillcrest. The attackers hit March
on the head with a bottle, beat him with a chain, knocked him to
the ground and kicked him repeatedly. A companion of March ran to
a liquor store and called police.

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