Crime & Safety
Hate Crime Charges For Long Island Man After Same-Sex Couple Attacked At Marina: Police
Anti-lesbian remarks were made; one woman was punched and the other almost pushed into the water at a popular marina, cops say.
Patchogue, NY — A Patchogue man has been charged with hate crimes in connection with an attack on a same-sex couple at the village's marina last month, Suffolk police said Wednesday.
Two 29-year-old women were watching the sunset at Mascot Dock on South Ocean Avenue on May 14 at around 7:45 p.m. when two men in a vehicle made anti-lesbian remarks, according to police.
One of the men punched one of the women while the other tried to push the second woman into the water and threw one of their cell phones into the water, police said, adding that the women were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
Find out what's happening in Patchoguefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Joseph Kess, 40, was charged with third-degree assault and criminal mischief as hate crimes, a felony and a misdemeanor, as well as second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, after an investigation by Suffolk's Hate Crimes Unit, police said.
Kess will be held overnight at the 3rd Precinct pending his arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday.
Find out what's happening in Patchoguefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison called it "unacceptable that two people cannot enjoy a night out without being intimidated, ridiculed, and physically assaulted" because of their sexual orientation.
“There is no room for hate in this county and we will continue to arrest those who target individuals based on personal biases," he said.
District Attorney Ray Tierney said it is "despicable that two young women couldn’t peacefully enjoy a beautiful spring sunset by the bay without allegedly being verbally and physically attacked simply because of their sexual orientation.”
"There is no place for bigotry in Suffolk County and my office will do everything in its power to ensure that perpetrators of hate crimes such as the one alleged here are held accountable," he said.
The investigation is continuing, police said.
It was not immediately clear if Kess has legal representation.
It's not the first time there has been a bias incident in the area.
In August 2022, two males on bikes were sought for ripping down a Pride Flag at home on Case Avenue in Patchogue, police said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
