{"id":4300,"date":"2026-07-10T10:34:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T10:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4300"},"modified":"2026-07-10T10:34:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T10:34:32","slug":"charges-upgraded-for-man-accused-of-injuring-lgbtq-organizer-at-cary-pride-event-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4300","title":{"rendered":"Charges upgraded for man accused of injuring LGBTQ+ organizer at Cary Pride event"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

A Cary man who allegedly struck a local LGBTQ+ organizer with a flagpole while shouting homophobic slurs is now facing upgraded charges.<\/p>\n

Read more Sports cars, \u2018fraud,\u2019 adultery: Bitter court feud over Rep. Tricia Cotham\u2019s dad<\/a><\/p>\n

Justin Keith Batchelor Jr., 25, is charged with assault on a female, a Class A1 misdemeanor, in the June 13 incident, court records show. Batchelor had previously been cited for simple assault, a Class 2 misdemeanor, The News & Observer reported last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Batchelor is accused of striking Sara Buxton, owner of The Night Market Company, with a PVC flagpole bearing an American flag at the Alphabet Soup Pride Market in Downtown Cary Park, The N&O reported.<\/p>\n

Buxton posted an Instagram video showing her black eye and sharing her account of what took place last month. She called for tougher charges against her alleged attacker.<\/p>\n

Batchelor was arrested Wednesday and remains in jail without bail. He was already out on an unsecured bail bond after being arrested July 4 for allegedly trespassing onto a bridge at Interstate 40 and Harrison Avenue, court records show.<\/p>\n

Sarah Jessica Farber, Buxton\u2019s attorney, said the charges \u201cbetter reflect\u201d the nature of the assault and that Buxton should not have had to advocate for the upgraded charges.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo often, victims, particularly, LGBTQ+ victims, are expected to accept a dismissive response and move on,\u201d Farber said in a statement Thursday. \u201cSara refused to do that. While no charge can undo the harm she experienced, this decision sends an important message that these cases deserve careful attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

The change in charges slightly alters the potential sentence Batchelor could face, if convicted. North Carolina sentencing charts show a Class 2 misdemeanor, the classification for simple assault, carries a minimum of a day in jail and a maximum of 60 days in jail for someone with Batchelor\u2019s prior conviction record.<\/p>\n

The more stringent charge of a Class A1 misdemeanor, the classification for assault on a female, carries a minimum of a day in jail and a maximum of 30 days in jail.<\/p>\n

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Buxton said the market was a \u201cgreat event\u201d until a shirtless \u201cagitator\u201d began to run through the market with an American flag on a pole, according to the video. When Buxton asked him to put a shirt on, Batchelor allegedly hit her in the face and called her slurs.<\/p>\n

Helicia Chiang, who witnessed the incident, told The N&O last month Batchelor began \u201cscreaming profanities\u201d and a threat about a firearm in the moments after the attack before running away from the scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cQueer-owned businesses need your support always, not just during Pride month,\u201d Buxton wrote in the video\u2019s caption. \u201cThrowing Pride events shouldn\u2019t involve physical harm and violence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buxton had previously called for additional charges against Batchelor, describing her struggles to be in large crowds and anxiety after the assault, The N&O previously reported.<\/p>\n

North Carolina statute doesn\u2019t recognize hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity.<\/p>\n

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The N&O last month that federal law covers those categories, but would require a federal complaint from the victim to be elevated to federal court.<\/p>\n

Farber said Buxton appreciated the time and attention taken by Cary police and Freeman\u2019s office to investigate the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe looks forward to its ultimate resolution,\u201d Farber said.<\/p>\n

Batchelor has previously been charged with assault. He was arrested July 17, 2025, in Cary after allegedly getting out of his car in the middle of the road and pushing another man, according to court documents. But the case was dismissed in January after police and the victim didn\u2019t come to court, court records indicate.<\/p>\n

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This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 12:34 PM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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