Palm Springs Parents Beat Gay Couple In Front of Their Child

Posted by Kevin Farrell on Jun 1, 2011 in Crime | 14 comments

Russell Bates and Abigail Sheehy

Russell Bates, 24, and Abigail Sheehy, 19, have each been charged with three felony counts (including hate crime charges!) after beating a gay couple so badly that one man’s teeth were knocked out and his jaw was broken.

What was the argument over, you ask? A parking spot.

An argument over a parking space in downtown Palm Springs spiraled last weekend into what police call a brutal attack that should be prosecuted as a hate crime.

That’s because a man and woman used gay slurs during the fight that left two men hospitalized, Palm Springs police said.

When the unidentified victims began taking photos of the heterosexual couple, the man and woman “became enraged and began yelling derogatory slurs,” Sgt. Troy Castillo said.

Russell Bates and Abigail Sheehy began “to punch the couple multiple times with closed fists, causing one of the victims to lose some teeth,” Castillo said.

The assailants, who police say had a 4-year-old son who witnessed the attack, fled before officers arrived.

It’s safe to say the couple won’t be taking home any awards for outstanding parenting. In fact, they have now lost custody of their child following the attack, and have been charged with an additional charge of misdemeanor child abuse.

Sheehy has been released on bail, while Bates continues to rot in jail for violating his parole.

Jerks.

The 63 and 45-year-old victims are currently recovering from their injuries.

(via MyDesert.com)

http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-Garner/1553327929 Bruce Garner

The perpetrators appear to be the epitome’ of “white trash.” Glad the police are on top of this as well as they are. God help their child.
Bruce

http://www.facebook.com/people/Crystal-Henze/100000571907602 Crystal Henze

They are just awful people, don’t besmirch the name of white trash because of them most white trash are not that horrendous

Anonymous

Oh contraire! I don’t put anything past white trash. I live at the oceanfront in Virginia Beach. 98% of our tourists are white trash, and most would just assume spit at you than look at you.

Andy b

You have no idea if they’re “white trash.”
What is the definition of “White trash?”
Because I don’t think someone who lives in a house on Virginia Beach has any concept of what “white trash” is other than what they see on TV.
I grew up with people most would call “white trash” but they’re the nicest people I’ve ever met.

Making the assumption that all people who are “white trash” are rude and cruel, is the same as others making the assumption that all gays are perverted and pedophiles.
Don’t discriminate against anyone.
For if we want equality then we must stop discrimination based on race, religion, sex, social status, income, sexual orientation, and gender expression/identity.

Anonymous

Actually, my misguided friend, you assume that I live directly on the beach- and I do not. I live “at the oceanfront,” as do many other people who earn below the poverty line. And to answer your first question: “What is the definition of white trash?” My own personal definition would be a caucasian who is lewd, lascivious, obscene, and inconsiderate (so, not necessarily poor- think Sarah Palin.)

Furthermore, if you’re going to enter “grown-up” public discourse, it’s more apt to suggest logical actions, rather than command people to do/not do something. The latter sounds ignorant.

For instance, you might say “It is unwise to discriminate because we are already victims of discrimination, and should know better.” (Even though I wasn’t practicing discrimination or prejudice, I was merely making a statement of observation that did not paint a particular group with a characteristic.)

It seems like you are learning about discrimination/prejudice/inequality in some sort of Sociology 101 course at a state university or high school; and I applaud you for applying this knowledge. However, I urge you to use rhetoric wisely, and carefully read the statements that you choose to refute.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dennise-Cole/100002229649658 Dennise Cole

people like this give white trash a bad name

http://www.facebook.com/people/Lake-Bear/100000489988979 Lake Bear

All trash bro, sad
mu_linlin7

Let’s do the math here: this couple, consisting of a 24-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, has a four-year-old child. That means the child was conceived when the man was 20 and the woman was 15, yes? I daresay that’s a mite illegal.
http://twitter.com/lilianajoo Liliana Joo

This is terrifying! I hope the couple that was attacked are alright now…
http://www.facebook.com/people/Crystal-Leonard-Gregg/1441311803 Crystal Leonard Gregg

My heart and prayers go out to the couple recovering and to the child. If this is how those people react to and treat adults I can only imagine that the child has suffered some kind of abuse in the past. Such a sad display.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_M5TQI3RLS4HMNCAM35XJTQ4TBI ShowMeGuy

Bates and Sheehy sound like real high-class people. What were they doing in Palm Springs?
http://www.facebook.com/Katharineisonfire Katharine Warner

they beat up a 63 year old man!? seriously, it was bad before, but where is someone’s head is anything like this okay!?
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http://www.facebook.com/WifeOfAJewish Andrea Schneider

they look like that could be related. eww! scum!
Pingback: Peterson Toscano and His Play, Transfiguration; Obama Extends Protections to Gay Couples Under Medicaid; LA: Bill to Prohibit Workplace LGBT Discrimination Dies in Committee; and more… » DailyQueerNews.com
http://www.facebook.com/Sterling.Deardorff Jenny Lynn Baker

as a mother myself i hope she never gets her child back… i try to protect my kid from crap like this… not expose it..

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