SALEM — Three men could face up to 15 years in state prison in the beating of a Salem man outside a Gloucester bar last April, and a fourth man is now also facing charges stemming from the incident.
An Essex County grand jury has indicted Jonathan Chadwick, 23, William Chadwick, 21, and John Curley, 23, on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, which carries a potential 15-year prison term and a $10,000 fine.
A fourth man, Mark Elwell, was indicted on a charge of assault and battery. He faces up to 21รขÑ2 years in jail. His age was not available.
The indictments were handed up by the grand jury last week following an investigation.
Investigators believe the four men were involved in the severe beating of Justin Goodwin, 36, an openly gay Salem man who was at the Old Timer's Tavern in Gloucester with his sister on the evening of April 10.
At some point during the evening, his sister was involved in an argument. Goodwin said he was punched as he tried to shield his sister from being assaulted, and then pushed out of the bar by bouncers, into an alley, where he was then beaten and kicked until he was unconscious.
Goodwin and his sister say the attack was motivated by hatred of homosexuals, saying that the men yelled anti-gay slurs as they beat Goodwin. However, the men have not been charged with any hate crimes at this point.
Goodwin's lawyer in a civil suit, John Morris, said his client may be undergoing another round of surgery to repair his jaw, which was among 12 broken bones in his face. He now has five plates holding his face together.
Morris also said Goodwin recently started counseling to help him deal with what happened.
"He's afraid now to go out," Morris said yesterday.
Charges against the Chadwicks and Curley are still pending in Gloucester District Court but will be dismissed once they are arraigned in Superior Court.
Prosecutor Greg Friedholm has not scheduled an arraignment date for the four men.
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
