Gasper's Hate Crime Trial Delayed

A second defendant in the case of a man who was beaten up at an Altamont bar allegedly because he is black has had his trial delayed due to a change in the state's attorney's office.

Kevin Gasper of Effingham was to go on trial next Monday on counts of aggravated battery and a hate crime for his alleged role in the beating incident.  In court Monday, a motion was granted calling for a special prosecutor in Gasper's case.  New State's Attorney Bryan Kibler had been serving as defense counsel for Gasper's co-defendant Justin Antrim before taking office.  David Rands of the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor's Service has been named Special Prosecutor in Antrim's case.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled in the cases of both Antrim and Gasper for January 23 to decide the status of both cases.

A third defendant in the incident, William Coleman of Watson, earlier pleaded guilty to his role and was sentenced to a five-year prison term.