Worcester man arrested for hate crimes in beating of famed NYC cross-dresser
A 20-year-old man from Worcester faces several hate crimes for beating and yelling anti-gay statements at a cross-dressing man in September, New York City Police said.
“Elegant’’ Elliot Offen, 63, reported to police in September that he was punched and kicked while a suspect made anti-gay statements at the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in Brooklyn. Offen received treatment for bruising to his back, buttocks, and leg, police said.
On Saturday, Offen again reported being harassed near the synagogue by one of the same suspects in the September beating, the New York Daily News reports.
Nehoray Shabbot, 20, was arrested on Saturday night and faces charges of assault as a hate crime, aggravated harassment as a hate crime, assault, and aggravated harassment, police said.
Shabbot admitted to the beating in court papers, according to the Daily News.
Offen is a colorful New York character recognizable by his penchant for high heels, unique outfits, and extremely NSFW language. He was featured several times on Howard Stern’s radio show as part of the “Wack Pack,’’ a collection of unhinged personalities that served as radio guests.
Offen, who is Jewish, has previously spoken about how he has been “victimized and violated by bias’’ within the Jewish community for his clothing choices.
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Information on Shabbot’s attorney was not immediately available.
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