Two women
arrested in assault on gay teenager

Two 19-year-old women accused in a December hate crime involving the beating of 16-year-old gay youth in Des Moines have been arrested, local police reported. Jassimen Dobbins, 19, and Angela Wade, 19, were taken into custody on Friday following a brief foot chase, according to The Des Moines Register. They were booked on charges of first-degree burglary and third-degree arson.

Dobbins and Wade are accused of beating the teenager over the head with a bottle and stabbing him with a fork. According to a police report, the teen was robbed of $5 in cash, an ATM card, and a driver's license, and his bag was set on fire.

Hate-crime charges were added after Dobbins and Wade told police Friday that they knew the victim was gay and admitted to using antigay slurs during the alleged attack. Police said it was uncertain how the two knew the victim. Each is being held on $42,250 bond. (The Advocate)