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(Santa Fe, New Mexico) A 21-year-old Santa Fe man beaten to unconsciousness was released from hospital Tuesday, more than a week after he was attacked by five men.
But, the future for James Maestas remains uncertain. He was taken off a respirator at St. Vincent Hospital on Monday and is breathing on his own, but he is still very sick a family spokesperson said.
Maestas has pneumonia. His lungs were damaged in the attack, and there is the risk of further infection, the spokesperson for his parents said.
Three men have been charged in the February 27 beating. (story)
Maestas and his friend Joshua Stockham 24, of Albuquerque had just finished lunch with several female friends at a Santa Fe restaurant and had gone outside for a smoke when five men drove into the parking lot. The men attempted to talk up the girls and at some point got into an argument with Maestas and Stockham.
A police statement says that the argument escalated with one of the men calling Maestas and Stockham "faggots" and trying to provoke a fight.
Stockham, Maestas and the females got into a car and began driving away. The men then began throwing rocks at the car according to the statement said.
A man identified as the person who had waited on them in the restaurant, David Trinidad, 17, was just finishing work and came outside. The statement said that Trinidad knew the five men and joined in the rock throwing.
Trinidad, the police statement said, learned that Maestas and Stockham were staying at nearby hotel while he was serving them.
He told investigators that he and the five men followed the group to the hotel and along the way they "pumped" themselves up by talking about "fucking those faggots up". The statement also quotes Trinidad as telling investigators that they referred to Stockham and Maestas as "fucking white boys."
They arrived at the hotel just behind Stockham and Maestas and began beating the pair while yelling anti-gay epithets.
Maestas fell to the ground unconscious. Stockham was treated at hospital and released.
Trinidad, Gabriel Maturin, 20, and Isaia Medina, 19, each face charges of aggravated battery. Prosecutors have charged the 17 year old Trinidad as an adult. All three face hate-crimes enhancements the prosecutor said.
Last weekend about 300 people attended a candlelight vigil to show support for Maestas. Among the attendees was Gov. Bill Richardson and Police Chief Beverly Lennen. (story)
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