Bremerton man sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for hate crime in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood

SEATTLE -- A Bremerton man has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for a hate crime against three gay men in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in January, U.S. Attorney Annette Hayes announced Monday.

Troy Deacon Burns, 38, had pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Aug. 5 to violating the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

He admitted that just after midnight on Jan. 25, he attacked three gay men were were walking in Capitol Hill.

As part of the plea agreement, Burns said he came up behind three men and shouted homophobic slurs, then raised a knife over his head in a stabbing position. Fearing for their safety, the men started running. As Burns caught up to one of the men, he again used a slur and attempted to stab the man, but one of the other men was able to pull his friend away from Burns.

Police were called and took Burns into custody.

During his plea hearing, Burns said he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the assault and that he didn't remember his actions.

He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.