Tommy Dean Gaa, of Maryville, was sentenced Friday for third-degree assault motivated by discrimination. He was also placed on five years of supervised probation. He could face up to three years in jail if he violates probation.
Prosecutors say Gaa grabbed the woman’s arm hard enough to causing bruising while eating at a Maryville Hy-Vee in October. He asked the woman if she liked to party before making the comment about hanging her grandpa.
The Maryville Daily Forum reports the assault charge would normally have been a misdemeanor but was elevated to a felony under Missouri’s hate crimes statute.