FARMINGTON, N.M.—A man accused in the attack of another man believed to be gay pleaded no contest April 15 to reduced charges that dropped a one-year hate crime sentencing enhancement.

Jerry Paul, 40, pleaded no contest to a felony count of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of aggravated battery. He faces more than two years in prison.

The victim, Matthew Shetima, told police last September that while he was walking through an alley in Farmington, several men called him over and began hitting him and calling him a faggot. He said the men pulled him into their nearby motel room, where they continued to punch and kick him until he escaped.

Farmington police arrested Paul; Scott Thompson, 22, of Aztec; and Craig Yazzie, 37, of Dennehotso, Ariz.

Yazzie last month pleaded no contest to the same charges as Paul.

Prosecutors allege Thompson was the ringleader. He was not offered a deal and is to go on trial May 2 on charges of kidnapping and aggravated battery.

“As of right now, my focus is on Scott Thompson and I don’t foresee backing off on the hate crime enhancement” for him, prosecutor Brent Capshaw said.

Paul and Yazzie, who originally faced charges of kidnapping and aggravated battery, are to be sentenced after Thompson’s trial.

Attorneys for the three said last December that the district attorney was sensationalizing the case with a hate crime prosecution, and that it was unwarranted because they did not go searching for a homosexual to attack.