A North Texas man is facing federal hate crime charges after authorities say he severely beat a gay man he met through an online service.
A federal criminal complaint reviewed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram alleges 19-year-old Brice Johnson invited the victim to his home in Springtown, about 25 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
The victim, identified in court documents only as A.K., was beaten and thrown in the trunk of a car because of his sexual orientation. He suffered multiple fractures and was hospitalized for 10 days.
Johnson initially was charged with aggravated assault for the September attack. Federal authorities took him into custody last week.
Prosecutors said Johnson contended the beating was a prank that got out of hand. Conviction could get him 10 years in prison.
