Southie Brothers Jailed for Trump-Inspired Hate Crime in Dorchester

Mugshots via SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Trump Photo via AP

Scott and Steve Leader—the South Boston brothers accused of bludgeoning a homeless Mexican man with a metal pole, urinating on him, and telling police, “Donald Trump was right, all these illegals need to be deported”—were sentenced to prison Monday.

The Leaders had previously pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including causing bodily injury while committing a civil rights violation. Scott Leader received a three-year sentence, while Steve Leader was sentenced to 18 months in jail, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said. Both men must serve three years’ probation following their prison sentences.

The Leaders told police in August that they had beaten Guillermo Rodriguez as he slept in the JFK/UMass T station in Dorchester because they believed he was an illegal immigrant. In a prepared statement read by Assistant D.A. Nicole Rimar prior to sentencing, Rodriguez said he was, in fact, a permanent resident of the United States.

“I still feel pain all over my body from this incident. I don’t think my fingers will ever be the same,” he said. “I came to this country many years ago and worked hard in the farm fields to provide produce to people here. I actually became a permanent resident of this country years ago, although if I had been undocumented I still would not have deserved to be beaten this way.”

When asked about the beating in August, Trump said the people who follow him are “very passionate.”

Boston incident is terrible. We need energy and passion, but we must treat each other with respect. I would never condone violence.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2015

“They love this country. They want this country to be great again,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said.