2 plead guilty to hate crime charges after attacking trans employee at Mass. liquor store

Two men were sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to hate crime charges in relation to assaulting a transgender employee and her fiancé at a Western Mass. liquor store in 2024.

On July 16, 2024, the men assaulted the couple and used homophobic slurs after the employee refused to sell them alcohol at the Sunderland store, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

“(Warren)Martinez physically attacked both individuals with repeated punches, kicks, and the use of a pointed plastic bottle,” the DA’s office said. “(Thomas) Patnode assisted Martinez, brandishing a knife and threatening the two victims.”

Both victims were seriously injured in the attack.

The defendants changed their pleas to guilty just prior to jury selection in their scheduled trial.

Martinez, 31, pleaded guilty to mayhem, two counts of assault and battery to intimidate based on gender identity and sexual orientation causing injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and breaking and entering a building in the nighttime, officials said. Franklin Superior Court Judge John Agostini sentenced him to 5-10 years in state prison.

Patnode, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery to intimidate based on gender identity and sexual orientation causing injury and assault by means of a dangerous weapon. He received a sentence of 2.5 years in county jail and one year of probation concurrently.

“In court Monday, both victims described the significant impact of the physical assault on their lives,” the DA’s office said. “They spoke about the trauma caused by the attack and the inability to now feel safe in public.”