LAFAYETTE, La. — An attack on a gay Louisiana teenager is now being prosecuted as a hate crime.
Police initially said they didn't see evidence of a hate crime in the attack on Holden White, who spent days in a coma and nearly a month in the hospital.
Chance Seneca pleaded not guilty to attempted murder after allegedly choking White with a cord and slicing open his wrists.
Prosecutors added the hate crime charge last week. According to the assistant district attorney in the case, Donald Knecht, the additional charge carries a potential five year penalty to Seneca's sentence.
Seneca's defense attorney, Clay LeJeune, said was notified of the additional charge last week by prosecutors.
"We're going to enter a not-guilty plea on this new charge," LeJeune said. "I haven't seen any indication of evidence that this was a hate crime, but ultimately the state will have to produce that."
The two teens met on Grindr, a dating app for gay, bisexual and transgender men.
KATC spoke with White back in November to get his reaction to Seneca's arraignment.
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