Alejandro Bonilla looks good in jailhouse orange. Photo: SFPD
It seems of late there have been an endless stream of crime report posts on the Castro Biscuit. The majority, for the most part, to remain unsolved or under investigation but today good news: a San Francisco man has pleaded guilty to felony battery charges in an assault on a gay couple in the Castro this past May.
EBAR's Seth Hemmelgarn posts that on July 10th, Alejandro Bonilla, 35, pleaded guilty to a felony battery charge in San Francisco Superior Court in exchange for charges of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and possession of the drug Oxycontin being dismissed. The battery and assault charges carried allegations Bonilla had also committed a hate crime based on his victim’s sexual orientation.
Police reports shows that on May 19th the victim and his boyfriend, both in their twenties, were walking down 18th Street near Sanchez around 4PM when Bonilla came at them yelling,“Fuck you faggots” and “I hate faggots.”
He attacked the first victim with his fists cutting his face and breaking his pinkie. The second man defended himself when Mr. Bonilla attempted to attack him. Police were called and Mr. Bonilla was apprehended with the help of eye witnesses who came forward.
According to court documents on May 22nd Mr. Bonilla pleaded not-guilty during arraignment as was remanded to jail on $100,000 bail.
Now that he's pleaded guilty his sentencing date is scheduled for July 31st. He will most likely upon release of time in jail be sentenced to three years probation, court mandated drug, alcohol, mental counseling and anger management. He has also been ordered to stay 150 feet away from the intersection of Noe and 18th and both his victims at all times.
SFPD's Sue Bachma Photo: Sean Culligan
This arrest and conviction would've been much more difficult if witnesses to the crime had remained silent and not come forward and the quick response of first officers on the scene.
Working with both the initial investigator, Inspector Sue Bachman and case closer Sergeant Peter Shields, of the San Francisco Police Department’s Special Investigations Division in conjunction with ADA Victor Hwang who prosecuted the case this attack conviction goes into the win column.
The only way the Castro community will be able to really stem crime is to turn to each other to bear witness, protect, and respond when criminals attack. Working together with law enforcement to gain notable convictions like this will one help send the word to criminal elements that our neighborhood will not be easy victims.
