Acinonyx said on Sunday, Mar 4 at 2:14 AM

If a person or persons say(s) racial slurs, negative remarks about their sexual orientation, or remarks against their type of religion (or beliefs), and then does serious injury the other person: it is a hate crime. However, if there isn't enough evidence that this happened, like any other type of crime, it is unlikely that the guilty will be charged.

Anonymous said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 4:12 AM

Typical he said, she said, blah, blah, blah. Stupidity all around....not a hate crime. I agree with all the comments above regarding trying to make this into anything more. Violence is violence, a crime is a crime. Motives are irrelevant. And YES, thank GOD, our justice system requires evidence...not just assumptions and hearsay to convict. As I recall, the witnesses said Ashley and one of the man began to physically fight. after verbally attacking each other. Takes two to tango, either or both could have just as easily walked away, left. Girlfriend could have defused situation as well by getting Ashley to leave, but NO. And, did I also read and hear Chelsea say her roommate told her what the guy allegedly did to her when she attempted to get into the fight as well? Yes! You can't be mutual combatants then attempt to cry foul when you don't fare so well in the toss up. Were any charges filed against Ashley? Why only focus on Williams? PLEASE!!!!!

Steve said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 10:06 PM

Under what circumstances is this not a hate crime. A drunk manchild attacks a female, and because she told him she was gay. That meets the definition of a hate crime, two times over. Is GJ a suburb in Saudi Arabia that you don't recognize a hate crime whenyou see one all because of her girlfriend's behavior. Lock up the stupid guy and teach him a valuable lesson. When you attack a woman who won't go out with you, you pay the price, go straight to jail.

Guest said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 4:56 PM

Karma, way to speak the truth. I thank you for your statement. I think they are plenty of people in this community that feel the exact same way. I know I do!!!

GJ resident said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 3:24 PM

Drunks should be locked up forever, both were perpetrators of this crime. The male and female. A Drunk is a drunk, gay or normal.

guest said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 10:46 AM

i do NOT see a hate crime . i see a festupid people who had to much to drink. sounds like there is more going on than we will ever know. he sholdnt have hit her but why didnt her and her partner walk away ? 2 sides to it all .

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 5:19 AM

omg my head is spinning. First, it was dude was clearly in the wrong by going into a roide rage by assaulting an innocent lesbian girl who was selling girl scout cookies on the sidewalk outside the bar, but resisted his advances. Now, her butch girlfriend attacked this innocent roid ridden jock whose only crime was he was a few days underage. In addition, the butch girlfriend is a convicted felon who has stolen from just about everyone in GJ at some point or another. Can someone please tell us the truth about what really happened? Geez.

Dad said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 12:07 AM

Cami, your correct on them both making bad choices however this is about a Shane having to accept his responsibly in the situation and not to blame the female victim for his actions. What I don't understand if his friends were there why they didn't intervene and stop him because I would never allow a male friend of mine put his hands on female in violence no matter who started the fight. No honorable man would.

Cami said on Monday, Feb 20 at 8:42 PM

Dad, Yes it sounds like neither one of them should have been drinking. Under the influence individuals are not capable of making the right choices, this is why so many people are abused, killed by drunk drivers and do things they would not do if they were sober. I just hating seeing this turn into a hate crime because clearly it was all about drunk young adults making horrible choices

Dad said on Monday, Feb 20 at 8:20 PM

Dear Cami, you are obviously a smart caring person however If a person can't handle his or her alcohol they shouldn't drink. To many people use the excuse, I was drinking so don't blame me for my actions. We as a society can't accept this for a reason not to be held accountability for our action's.

Dad said on Monday, Feb 20 at 7:49 PM

No man has a right to put his hands on a Woman, no matter the situation! A REAL MAN would have walked away from the situation!It takes a real man to walk away than to react with violence and worry what people will think of him for walking away. Come on "THINK" for those of you trying to justify his actions if it was a female family member of yours, you'd think differently about it and wouldn't make such Stupid comments.

Harvey Milk said on Monday, Feb 20 at 6:42 PM

Oh how special. Beat the hell out of an old person, well that’s just assault. I mean after all, they weren’t born old so how could that be a hate crime? But if that old person is black, brown, yellow or red or if they just happen to be a Muslim or a Jew or perhaps gay, well now that’s a crime of a whole different story. Did any of you happen to notice in the film footage a square helium filled Mylar balloon printed with the words; “Milk it for all it is worth” right beside the bedridden victim? Did you notice the screen name that this comment is posted under? What do you think was meant by “milk it for all it is worth”? If you know the answer to that, then you’ll know how the gay community establishes special laws for their protection. Why isn’t it a hate crime to beat up a straight person? Maybe they’re just not special and don’t know how to milk it for all it is worth?

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 20 at 5:33 PM

Her voice comes across as honest, trustworthy, cute and genuine inquisitiveness. Please submit your tv/radio resume so we can judge your voice. Or are you jealous because you are not on tv?

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 20 at 3:23 PM

My God, I honestly wonder how some of you people remember to breath or wipe. Re-read. I advocate increasing her punishment under hate crime laws (targeting those able to afford stuff). Not giving her a pass.

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 20 at 2:46 PM

She only stole those things because the owners had money and means to buy them.....therefore she is guilty of anti-rich behaviour. We need to prosecute these people under hate crimes. She wouldn't have committed these crimes against the poor.

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 20 at 1:38 PM

Is the Ashley commenting on here the same one others have accused of theft from lockers at Golds' gym? And ID theft?

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 20 at 12:12 PM

She was defending herself with her purse because he tried to hit her! I am in shock there are actually people defending this loser and his behavior. It was not "a matter of time" at all! this should never happen to anyone!

jordan said on Monday, Feb 20 at 11:34 AM

for those of you that dont know Chelsea, this is typical Chelsea behavior and the behavior of her thug girlfriend. I have no problems with gays, in fact I have alot of gay friends, but just cuz the thug takes on the masculine role does not mean she can take on a man and then expect to win. Come on gals time to take some responsibility for your actions. I agree with the statemen "maybe you shouldn't go out". I would not want to show my face when publically making this ag=bout being gay instead of being drunk and stupid.

Jordan said on Monday, Feb 20 at 11:06 AM

Totally agree with Joan, the people involved are always in the middle of bad situations. Time for those girls to realize they cant take on everyone and not expect to have consequences. No she shouldnt go out EVER!

Stacy said on Monday, Feb 20 at 11:03 AM

If you don't know the whole story, then you should not comment. This was NOT becuase she would not go home with him. He was not interested at all and in fact, his girlfriend was at the bar that night also. It definitely was not attempted murder. You are an idiot if you don't get both sides of the story. This was very unfornate and a very bad decision on his part....but that's it. And I don't even know him. Maybe you should not put yourself in these types of situations.

Joan said on Monday, Feb 20 at 10:57 AM

Really? You are trying to make this about being gay? I'm really sick of that being an excuse. This was simply a bad situation. No, he should not have touched a girl at all. BUT, do you think hitting him in the head with your huge purse had anything to do with his sudden impulse to tackle you? Whenever alcohol is involved, things get out of hand. And if you know the people who are involved, they tend to always be making bad decisions. This had nothign to do with being gay and it is shame that you are trying to put that out there instead of taking some of the responsibility. Shame on all of you in this situation. I'm glad she is okay. but really?

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 20 at 8:51 AM

I feel absolutely horrible for Chelsea and hope that she has a speedy recovery BUT I can honestly say that I’m positive her "girlfriend" started this whole situation. Ashley is a felon who is responsible for all of the Gold's Gym robberies. I personally know of a few cases where she stole key’s, broke into the people’s vehicles, stole their personal property including their identity, and then proceeded to make NUMEROUS charges on their credit cards. You are what you hang around!!!!

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 20 at 3:09 AM

ok people if you knew anything about laws to prove attempted murder you must first prove intent which i dont think is their as for the hate crime it sounds more like he was mad she was going home with a girl instead of him which made him make the anti-gay remarks. i don't think he did this for merely the fact that she was gay so it will be hard to prove too... that means unless other evidence surfaces it is going to be hard to prove either, i bet the DA goes for the slam-dunk 2nd degree which is a 5 year minimum in prison which in my opinion is enough he could also add in the hate crime thing just to see if it sticks if not no harm in trying... shane did a bad thing that night but to think 5 years is going to change his life in so many ways seeing as how he could spend more in their i think the punishment for the 2nd degree is enough. BTW i don't know either the victim or the criminal this is just my honest 3rd party opinion

Ashley Spears said on Monday, Feb 20 at 12:55 AM

Karen, its called defending your pride, standing up for what you believe in and protecting the one you love.

Chena said on Sunday, Feb 19 at 11:59 PM

Its sad that system in Mesa County is so corrupt. I happen to know Chelsea and she is a sweet girl who would do nothing but defend herself & her loved ones. She is an absolute zero physical threat to a male. My prayers go out to her and her family.

Ashley Spears said on Sunday, Feb 19 at 10:50 PM

Like Chelsea said, she doesnt think any of it would have happened if she wasn't gay. This is dicrimination, what the difference between assulting a black person because they are black and assulting a gay person because they are gay??? NOTHING! This "football player" needs not only be charged with assult, mip, and having a fake id but also for discriminating against a gay couple. No one deserves to be assulted for any reason, especially for standing up for what you believe in and showing affection to the one you love. Shean deserves the max penalty for what he did and if the responding officers cant see the plain as day facts that they are presented with then they need to go work at McDonalds because this seems to be an open and shut case. This IS obviously a hate crime!!!!

Linnea said on Sunday, Feb 19 at 9:01 PM

I feel horrible for Chelsea and her family. The act he did was a Hate Crime. Idk what the law is here on the act but on the east coast it is life in prison. Society these days really need to face the fact that we WILL have gays and lesbians. If they don't like it they should move to another country. Chelsea I am sorry this happened to you my Prays and thoughts are with you, your family, and girlfriend.

SLB said on Sunday, Feb 19 at 7:30 PM

It's clearly a hate crime, if it is ruled as anything other is absurd and the fact that the police are quite some years older than this young lady proves how naive this country is. Politics and faith aside, someone was physically assaulted over something the shouldn't matter to the world. I attend the sister school and I am a lesbian and I haven't endured anything like this. I hope this jerk really sees how stupid his actions were.