A 38-year-old homeless man who punched a transgender woman in the face Portland’s North Park Blocks pleaded no contest Friday to a hate crime and was sentenced to 75 days in jail.

Dominick Seferino Gonzales entered the plea to a felony bias crime for yelling slurs about the victim’s gender identity and race and then throwing a punch, resulting in a split lip, investigators said.

The victim is white. Jail records state Gonzales is Hispanic.

The victim, who also is homeless, was waiting with a friend in line for free coffee and food in the Park Blocks, investigators said. The victim was wearing a dress, and Gonzales approached and began yelling.

The friend tried to step between the two, but Gonzales got around the friend and threw the punch, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Bystanders wrestled Gonzales to the ground, but he broke free and rode off on a bicycle, according to the affidavit. Police arrested Gonzales a short distance away.

Gonzales said in court that he was sorry.

“I wasn’t raised like that, and I do apologize and regret my actions,” he said.

“What was going on that day?” asked Multnomah County Circuit Judge Angel Lopez.

“It was a mistake,” Gonzales said.

At the time of his arrest, Gonzales told jailers that he has post-traumatic stress disorder and had been homeless for about a year. He said he was living off Social Security disability payments and used methamphetamine, heroin, alcohol and THC.

His defense attorney, William Walsh, said Gonzales is legally blind but can see enough to get around on his own.

Because Gonzales already has been in jail for 75 days, he was expected to be released immediately.

In addition to the jail time, the judge sentenced Gonzales to be assessed by mental health, drug and alcohol addiction experts and receive any treatment that they recommend.

“I am troubled by your behavior,” the judge told Gonzales. “Everybody has a right to feel safe in our society and in our community. And it’s not your role to make exceptions, you understand that?”

Gonzales responded: “Yes, sir.”

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

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