BOSTON, Nov. 25, 2015—Two South Boston brothers were held on high bail at their arraignment today on charges they beat and urinated on a homeless man because they believed him to be an immigrant, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

SCOTT LEADER (D.O.B. 7/20/77) and STEVE LEADER (D.O.B. 8/5/85) were arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on charges of civil rights violation while causing bodily injury, assault and battery for purposes of intimidation causing bodily injury, two counts each of assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.  Assistant District Attorney Nicole Rimar of the DA’s Major Felony Bureau asked that bail for Scott Leader be set at $100,000 and bail for Steven Leader be set in the amount of $75,000.  She also asked that, in the event either man is released on bail, they be ordered to wear a GPS monitor, abide by a curfew, stay away and have no contact with the victim, and remain drug and alcohol free.  Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson set Scott Leader’s bail at $75,000 and Steven Leader’s at $50,000 and ordered both men to stay away and have no contact with the victim and remain drug and alcohol free during the pendency of the case.

Rimar told the court that in the early morning hours of Aug. 19, the defendants approached the victim and urinated on his face as he slept outside the JFK/UMass MBTA station.  When asked why by the victim, Scott and Steven Leader walked away laughing.

After leaving the area, the defendants returned and attacked the victim by kicking, punching, and repeatedly striking him with a pole, prosecutors said.  Scott and Steven Leader then walked away laughing and high-fiving one another.

Witnesses called 911 and followed Scott and Steven Leader until the men were apprehended by State Police.  Scott Leader allegedly made a series of incriminating statements to State Police, including that he “tuned up that illegal immigrant” – making a punching gesture as he said this.  Steven Leader allegedly made statements that the victim “shouldn’t even be here,” and that the defendants were only arrested because they are white, prosecutors said.

The victim was transported to Boston Medical Center for treatment of injuries that included a bruise on his torso in the shape of a pole, multiple rib fractures, a temporal hematoma, and deformities to his hand and wrist.

Michael Coffey is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.  Scott Leader is represented by Victoria Kelleher and Steven Leader by Jessica Tripp.  They return to court Jan. 5.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.