JULY 23, 1993 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 3

Gunman gets maximum for gay bashing at bar

by Kevin Beaney

Two men who started a fight in December that included shots being exchanged in front of the Tomahawk bar were sentenced July 9.

Ronald Bucey of Cleveland, the gunman who shot at an off-duty sheriff's deputy during the altercation, was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison plus $1,000 court costs for felonious assault against a police officer. The case against the other man, Thomas Lenzghan, was not as strong; he received probation on a misdemeanor charge. Both defendants reached a plea bargain agreement several weeks ago.

Judge Daniel Gaul of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas decided to

review the facts of the case after the plea was entered but prior to sentencing. Bucey had maintained he was there to inquire about purchasing the bar-which was not for sale.

Deputy Douglas Burkhart, a 15-year veteran who was involved in the shootout, said he knew that "this type of behavior can't go on," and came out to the judge in explaining the details of the case. Judge Gaul praised the deputy for the courage of his decision to come out and felt even more compelled to see that justice be done.

The judge was convinced that the two defendants, entering at different times and not acknowledging each other, went to the Tomahawk on December 6 with the intent to threaten gay people.

The bar was fairly crowded with a pre-

Cleveland gay market is focus of survey

by Martha Pontoni

Cleveland State University and the Gay People's Chronicle are sponsoring a survey of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in Cuyahoga County to confirm demographics and spending styles and compare them to the general population.

A random sample of more than 1,000 readers picked from the Chronicle's database will be asked to complete the anonymous survey, which will cover four major areas: demographics, spending styles, spending trends and reader responses to advertising. The survey, which will be mailed the last week in July, will also include specific questions about each Chronicle department.

The survey is completely anonymous. No names will be asked and no Chronicle employee will see individual completed surveys. A graduate student in marketing at CSU will open the survey and compile the

statistics and only totals will be given to the Chronicle to use as marketing information. This survey is unique in the fact that only information received from lesbians, gay men and bisexuals will be compiled.

"It is very important that our advertisers know more about our readers," said Chronicle sales manager Patti Harris. "We are really trying to attract bigger, more established advertisers, and this will help us tremendously in achieving that goal."

The results will be published in the Chronicle, Plain Dealer and Crain's Cleveland Business.

"The importance of this survey cannot be overstated," commented managing editor Kevin Beaney. "We really need this information to continue to grow and understand what our readers want. We hope that everyone who receives survey will fill it out and send it back as soon as possible."

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holiday AIDS fundraiser. Lenzghan, visibly intoxicated, was asked by the manager to leave. He refused and, brandishing a beer bottle, got into a scuffle. By the time the altercation reached the sidewalk, it included assistance from the bouncer at Memoirsthe gay bar next door-and the off-duty deputy. When Burkhart identified himself as a police officer, Bucey, who had also moved to the sidewalk, pulled out a handgun and fired, missing the deputy. Meanwhile, Lenzghan hit the Memoirs bouncer in the face with the bottle, breaking a tooth. Burkhart shot Lenzghan in the leg. The two suspects fled the scene as police arrived.

Following the blood trail, police were able to apprehend Lenzghan. Burkhart rode with Cleveland police and spotted Bucey ducking into another neighborhood bar. They arrested him in the basement with the

handgun still in his possession.

Restricted to the plea bargain's reduced charges, Judge Gaul gave Bucey the maximum sentence he could to "send a message" to the community that he will not tolerate gay bashing. This decision was handed down despite the fact that Bucey had no prior criminal record, and is the son of a retired police officer.

Since he began serving on the bench in January 1991, Judge Gaul says he established a policy to look more closely at violent crimes, especially those where the victims are the elderly or a minority class such as gays. "A person like Bucey, taking a gun to a gay establishment and then using it against a police officer, has got to go," according to Gaul. He hopes the jail term will put him "in his place, physically and mentally." ♡

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