Three St. Charles residents have been charged with a hate crime in connection with a violent attack on a group of people while taunting two men in the group for being gay.
Stephan C. Bolt, 31, of the 4N800 block of East Mary Lane; Christopher M. Miner, 30, of the 100 block of North 15th Street; and Susan V. Patton, 31, of the 6N200 block of Woodland Road, each are charged with two counts of felony hate crime.
They also face two counts of aggravated battery and one count of mob action. Bolt and Miner were also charged with four counts of misdemeanor battery, while Patton faces six counts of that offense.
Although police announced the charges Monday, the incident is alleged to have taken place in the early morning hours of Jan. 6 in the 2000 block of Lincoln Highway (Route 38). The three were eventually arrested late last week, police said. None was immediately available for comment Tuesday morning.
About 1:45 a.m., police were called to the scene outside a bar. Witnesses told police that shortly after closing time, Patton threw a drink in the face of a 26-year-old woman. That woman, who was with two male friends, then walked away and headed home, police said.
As the group of three walked across a parking lot, a grey Mazda pulled up to them and stopped, witnesses reported. Patton got out of the car and again confronted the woman, police said. When the woman's two male friends stepped in front of her, Patton struck them, police said.
Bolt and Miner then got out of the car and joined Patton in punching and kicking the two men, "while taunting them for being gay," police said. One of the men was able to call 911 on his cell phone, causing Patton, Bolt and Miner to get back in the car and drive away, police said.
Police said a fourth person was also present during the incident and could face charges as the investigation continues.
While Patton and Bolt are free from jail on $3,000 bond, Miner remains in custody. All are due in Kane County court next on Feb. 15.
kthayer@tribune.com
Twitter: @knthayer
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3 charged with hate crime in St. Charles
