Three suspects plead innocent to assault on two black men

ATLANTA - Three defendants pleaded innocent Wednesday to beating two black men in what is being called one of Atlanta&#39;s worst hate crimes in recent history. <br> <br> Assistant district attorney Holly Hughes said she will seek an additional five years against 25-year-old Christopher Botts, 26-year-old Ulysses Andrade and 19-year-old Angela Pisciotta, who face 20-year sentences for six counts of aggravated assault and one count of criminal damage to property in the April sixth attack. <br> <br> Pisciotta also was charged with one misdemeanor count of simple battery against a police officer. <br> <br> The three are being held in custody without bond. <br> <br> The victims, 29-year-old Che Golden and his brother, 26-year-old Idris Golden, were at the hearing. <br> <br> The brothers were allegedly stomped and kicked by the defendants, who police said had been panhandling in the Little Five Points community in east Atlanta. <br> <br> State Senator Vincent Fort,a Democrat from Atlanta, who sponsored the state&#39;s hate crime bill which was passed two years ago, was also at the hearing. <br> <br> The hate crimes bill allows judges to impose additional criminal penalties -- up to five years for felonies -- when it is determined that a defendant selected the victim or the victim&#39;s property because of bias or prejudice. <br> <br> Fulton Superior Court Judge Marvin Arrington gave defense lawyers up to ten days to file pretrial motions.