A Chicago man pled guilty Oct. 21 for his part in a July 2013 attack on two gay women in the Austin neighborhood.
Terry Glover was convicted of two charges each of aggravated assault and committing a hate crime, and was sentenced by Judge Mary Margaret Brosnahan to three years in prison, with credit for the 471 days he has already spent in jail since his arrest last year.
Glover was one of several assailants who took part in the attack, which took place in the 0-100 block of North LeClaire Avenue, but he is to date the only one who has been apprehended.
One of the victims, Quintas Lockett, was present for Glover's plea. Lockett has kept a low profile following the attack; until now she had not publicly used her name or been photographed in conjunction with the investigation or legal proceedings. But as she left the courtroom following Glover's sentencing, she said of Glover, "Today, I wanted him to see my face."
"She followed through on this, and I hope she feels some justice was served," said Assistant State's Attorney Mary Jo Murtaugh after the hearing.
On July 6, 2013, Lockett and her girlfriend were walking to a friend's house for dinner when they encountered Glover on the street. He had attended school with Lockett's girlfriend and knew she was a lesbian, and began yelling anti-gay slurs at the couple.
After attending their function, Lockett and her girlfriend encountered Glover another time, and they again exchanged words. That in turn led to a physical altercation between Lockett and one of Glover's friends. Glover and others joined in. Ultimately the two women were pinned to the side of a car as they were attacked; their shirts and shoes were pulled off, and their wallets and cell phones were stolen.
Lockett found refuge in a neighbor's house. Her first instinct was to phone her sister. Upon doing so, she passed out and woke up in West Suburban Medical Center, where she was treated for multiple injuries.
The year since the attack has been difficult for Lockett. "It's been hellevery last bit of it," she said. "I've been losing out on jobs and late on bills."
The repercussions from the event weighed down on the relationship between her and her girlfriend, and, after six years together, the two parted ways. "She's been kind of scared," Lockett said. She has also been trying to relocate to another neighborhood; local residents still harass her about the episode and her sexual orientation.
"I've had my ups and downs," she added. "I see who supports me and who doesn't. I guess you thank God for the experiences you go through. I can make my way out of 'nowhere.'"
Indeed, Lockett said she had much to be grateful for, and expressed appreciation for both community advocates who helped her when they learned of her experience and her mother and other family members who stayed by her side.
"I've been raised by three Black womenyou've got no choice but to be strong," she said.