Stamford man gets probation in hate-crime attack

Erick Sanchez, 20, of Stamford, was charged with a beating a Hispanic immigrant with a broom stick and putting the man in the hospital for three days, police said. Erick Sanchez, 20, of Stamford, was charged with a beating a Hispanic immigrant with a broom stick and putting the man in the hospital for three days, police said. Photo: Stamford Police / Contributed Photo: Stamford Police / Contributed Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Stamford man gets probation in hate-crime attack 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD — A city man will receive probation for assaulting a Hispanic immigrant with a broomstick while shouting ethnic slurs at the victim and his friends last year on East Main Street.

Erick Sanchez, 20, of Tresser Boulevard, pleaded guilty this week to felony counts of first-degree assault and intimidation based on bigotry or bias.

According to the plea agreement, Sanchez will receive no jail time but will serve three years probation. He could be sent to jail for up to five years if he breaks the law while on probation.

Police said the incident began when Sanchez walked past four Hispanic men drinking beers behind an East Main Street garage on Oct. 20, 2016. Sanchez returned a short time later carrying the broomstick and began yelling insults at the immigrants.

“You (expletive) Latinos. Go back to your own country. You (expletive) Spanish guys,” Sanchez said, according to a victim’s statement to police.

The victims also said the men threatened to kill them.

One of the men was knocked unconscious and was released from Stamford Hospital’s intensive care unit three days after emergency room doctors closed a gash on his head with four staples.

Each of the victims identified Sanchez as the man wielding the broomstick.