Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Hate Crime Charges Dropped Against Staten Islanders
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 20, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 20, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Staten Island District Attorney's office has dropped hate crime charges against two young white men accused of beating a black man in Mariners Harbor. SI DA Daniel Donovan said, "At this point I believe the evidence provided to my office by the police is legally insufficient to support hate-crime charges."
Skylar McCormick was allegedly punched, kicked, beaten and threatened with a baseball bat Tuesday night after he touched Daniel Avissato's Cadillac. Avissato and Mark Valeto still face second-degree gang assault charges; they were accompanied by at least two other men who have not been charged.
The attackers were allegedly yelling racial epithets, but the DA's decision now raises questions about the account. Donovan also said, "Our investigation is ongoing, and as our efforts move forward I am not excluding the possibility of presenting to a grand jury evidence in support of an indictment under the hate crimes statute."
During their arraignment yesterday, Avissato's lawyer John Murphy asked a number of black teens to appear, noting, "The accused young man I represent is not a racist. The anecdotal evidence of his living and working in harmony with diversity is overwhelming," and that there was a "rush to judgment" in the wake of the various hate crime incidents in the city. However, the Reverend Al Sharpton denounced decision to drop hate crime charges. He is expected to make a statement with McCormick and his family today.
And last year, a hate crime trial hinged on the use of a racial epithet. The defendant, who beat a black man with a baseball bat, eventually got 15 years in prison.
Photograph by the Staten Island Advance
Tagged
al sharpton
baseball
crime
daniel donovan
District
district attorney
grand jury
hate crime
mariners
Mariners Harbor
police
racist
Reverend Al
reverend al sharpton
staten island
Staten Island Advance
the city
The Police
The Staten Island
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC looks to grow involvement in Open Streets as applications open for 2027
The Mamdani administration bolstered funding this year and is asking applicants to suggest infrastructure upgrades.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 12:52 p.m. ET
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
By
James Ramsay
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .