Scotch Plains Man Pleads Guilty in Asbury Park Transgender Attack

ASBURY PARK, NJ - A Scotch Plains man charged in the pepper-spray attack on a transgender person preparing for an anti-hate rally in September pleaded guilty Thursday to simple assault. Morris James May, 22, received a 90-day suspended jail sentence in Municipal Court.

May will have to serve 100 hours of community service, undergo a mental health evaluation and pay a $250 fine as part of the plea agreement reached with prosecutor James N. Butler, according to a story in the Asbury Park Press.

May was charged with using the pepper spray upon Allison Kolarik, 34, who said she was attacked Sept. 3 after trying to engage May in conversation outside an Ocean Avenue shop. Volunteers were gathered outside the shop making signs for the city’s “Stand Against Hate’’ rally the next day.

The Labor Day rally in Springwood Park was convened in response to attacks that erupted at Charlottesville, VA.'s August “Unite the Right" rally. A woman was killed and 19 others were injured at the rally when a 20-year-old man drove a car into a group of counter-protestors.

Back in Asbury Park, Kolarik alleged that May was harassing volunteers making signs for the Springwood Park rally. Kolarik said May was heard saying, “I hate liberals. I hate you people. You’re trying to take away our rights."

An anti-hate rally in Berkeley, CA. held in support of the victims of Charlottesville. Photograph by Josh Edelson/Associated Press.