Kansas City man who sucker-punched Marine says LGBT hate crime conviction ruined his life

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/kansas-city-man-who-sucker-punched-marine-says-hate-crime/article_d920c268-1525-11e5-80f6-bb83a17afc9f.html

POSTED: THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015 1:30 AM
By Todd Cooper / World-Herald staff writer

He punched a Marine for defending a gay friend.

Then he punched his ticket to prison by blowing off nearly every resumption of his trial and even his own sentencing.

For that, Douglas County District Judge Leigh Ann Retelsdorf sentenced Gregory Duncan, 36, to 12 months to 18 months in prison. Under state law, Duncan — who is from Kansas City, Missouri — will serve 6 months before he is eligible for parole or, absent parole, 9 months before release.

“There were two assaults in this case,” Duncan’s attorney, James Martin Davis, said after sentencing. “My client assaulted a man in the Old Market. And he assaulted himself by shooting himself in the foot when he failed to show up and was late for court.”

FULL story at link.

[Behind the Aegis]

1. What a pity.

Guess he learned homophobia comes with a price. Usually, it's us, the GLBT, who pay that price.

[jeff47]

2. Damn actions. They shouldn't have consequences!! (nt)

[Reter]

3. From the article:

"A jury in February found that Duncan had sucker-punched Ryan Langenegger — who’s about 10 inches shorter and 90 pounds lighter — after one of Duncan’s friends called a man in drag a “faggot” in the post-bar crowds in downtown Omaha."

How big are these two? Always thought Marines have to be at least average, so is Duncan like 6'8?

[bluesbassman]

5. Minimum height requirement is 5' 0".

Don't know what the Marine in question's height is, but a ten inch variance is plausible.

[GCP]

6. There are some small Marines out there

My two sons are around 5ft 6ins and they were both Marines.

[Snobblevitch]

7. This information is in the news story.

The stry said Duncan is 6'5" and 255#. that would make Langenegger about 5'7" and 165#.

[stevenleser]

8. Which would make the bigger man a bully by any standard. Not only to hit someone that much smaller..

but to sucker punch them.

Could he be any more cowardly?

[Snobblevitch]

10. Although it would not surprise me to learn

that Duncan is a bully, we cannot determine that from this story. Sucker punching Langenegger was a cowardly act.

I can understand Duncan lamenting how terrible his life has become. He must remember however that all of it was brought on by his own actions, or in this case, inaction as well.

[stevenleser]

11. It fits the definition of bully in my book. Other than that agree with you 100%. nt

[Takket]

4. Good. I'm glad!

[olddots]

9. maybe he will get a job on Fox

as a sexuallity and mental health consultant .

[Angry Dragon]

13. anger management expert

[AZ Progressive]

12. Hmm, maybe he should've thought twice before doing a hate crime?

Fucking idiot. He deserves more punishment than what he has gotten, since hate crimes are a form of terrorism.

[Betty Karlson]

14. The world's tiniest violin

is till to big to play a sad song for this man's sorrow.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. I'm sure he was on the express train to fame, riches and success right up to that very moment

He sounds like a real genius.

[Aerows]

16. Maybe he shouldn't have

sucker punched a Marine.

He actually got off light by the fact that the Marine had enough self-restraint to not hit back.

[LiberalElite]

17. Ah. So it wasn't the crime, it was the conviction

thanks for clearing that up, bigot.

[geek tragedy]

18. "Sacrificed at the altar of political correctness"

Just in case people why our Asshole Detectors start beeping when they drop such phraseology.