NEW ORLEANS – A 19-year-old man pled guilty to stabbing a man in a hate crime and was given two consecutive two-year sentences, according to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.
DA Leon Cannizzaro announced the conviction following a guilty plea from Ryan Clark to aggravated battery and one count of a hate crime.
According to the DA’s office, Clark was walking in the 100 block of Royal Street last December 10 when he made a comment to a young man regarding his sexual orientation. A friend of the young man came to his defense and asked Clark to leave his friend alone.
Clark then stabbed the friend in the back, fled the scene and left Louisiana, according to the DA’s office.
Clark was later arrested in Florida.
Given the callousness displayed by this defendant, our entire community should feel safer knowing he is behind bars,” said Cannizzaro.
The defendant received a two-year sentence on the aggravated battery as well as a two-year sentence on the hate crime. Since by law the sentences must be served consecutively, the defendant must serve a total of four years in prison.
