Finally Justice For Aviance

The Associated Press Reports:

Four young men who were accused of brutally assaulting a nightclub singer and recording artist in Manhattan's trendy East Village neighborhood while yelling anti-gay slurs at him pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges related to the attack.

The four — Akino George, 21, of the Bronx; Gregory Archie, 19, of Manhattan; Jarell Sears, 21, of Newark, New Jersey, and Gerard Johnson, 17, of Manhattan, — admitted that last summer they chased, jumped and beat Kevin Aviance.

The four began following Aviance around 1:30 a.m. on June 10, 2006, calling him derogatory names, police said. They threw two garbage bags and a paint can at the singer before attacking him, police said.

The defendants punched and kicked Aviance, 39, in the face and body, breaking his jaw, bruising his knee and causing other injuries, police said. Passers-by yelled for the attack to stop, and when it was over a man walked Aviance to a hospital.