The punitive consequences for Stephen Scantlebury could potentially intensify following his violent assault on a nurse at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. The attack, which occurred on a Tuesday, resulted in the victim suffering from numerous facial fractures, potentially leading to a total loss of vision. Scantlebury, a 33-year-old individual, is already up against an attempted second-degree murder charge.
Law enforcement officials have noted that they’re now considering a hate crime enhancement to the charges he is facing. The decision was based on allegedly discriminatory remarks made by Scantlebury regarding the victim’s ethnicity during the assault. Such hate crime enhancements tend to escalate the legal consequences of the original charge.
During his stay in the hospital, Scantlebury reportedly climbed onto his bed, jumped onto the nurse who was tending to him, and commenced an aggressive stream of punches to her face, as per the statements in his arrest report. Adding a hate crime enhancement to the existing charges, if judged guilty, could lead to stricter sentencing.
Hate crime enhancements aren’t separate charges per se, but rather serve to intensify the severity of the primary charges. This means an enhancement could escalate a misdemeanor to a felony, or level a more grave category of felony. However, implementing such enhancements is challenging as it warrants an understanding of the defendant’s mindset.
The task becomes even more arduous when dealing with a defendant facing Baker Act charges. Post this ghastly incident, the local nursing community is uniting to offer support to their brutally attacked colleague. A nursing professional shared how she and her peers are discussing ways to show solidarity and extend their support.
Their initiative involves inviting nurses and other healthcare workers to participate in a peaceful gathering at Palms West Hospital, focusing on prayer and extending support to their impacted comrade. The news of this brutal assault deeply affected her, as she has had exposure to perilous situations herself. Her reaction, therefore, was far from astonishment.
She shared how she initiated a conversation with other nurses via group chat and strategized a plan for a peaceful assembly. Her call to action resonated within the community, with an overwhelming response from interested participants after she posted the event invitation.
As she explained, the anticipated event was not just a meet-up, but a mirror reflecting the spirit of unity and support inherent in the healthcare community. In addition, she shed light on the dress code for the gathering – attending in blue and white scrubs – inviting all healthcare professionals to join as a symbol of unity.