ATLANTA - Two defendants accused of beating two black men in an east Atlanta neighborhood have been denied release on bond in Fulton County's first hate crime case. <br>
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Christopher Botts, 25, and Angela Pisciotta, 19, were denied bail in Fulton Superior Court on Monday. A bond hearing has not been set for a third defendant, Ulysses Andrade, 26, said Fulton district attorney spokesman Erik Friedly. <br>
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Each has been charged with aggravated assault and criminal damage to property. <br>
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Che Golden, 29, and his brother, Idris Golden, 26, were allegedly stomped and kicked by the defendants, who police said had been panhandling in the Little Five Points neighborhood in east Atlanta. <br>
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The men survived but suffered injuries from the April 6 attack. <br>
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Georgia's new hate crime legislation, which was passed two years ago, 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's property because of bias or prejudice. <br>
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