A man who was caught on camera defacing a Pride art installation will face misdemeanor charges — a punishment that some activists don’t think is harsh enough.

In February, Dylan Reese Brewer drove his truck across a Delray Beach intersection that was painted the colors of the Pride flag in 2021 to honor the LGBTQ community. Brewer reportedly applied sharp brakes to damage the paint, and one of the passengers in the truck testified that Brewer intentionally added modifications to his truck so he could do “burnouts” easily.

State Attorney Dave Aronberg recently offered Brewer a plea deal where he would have to pay the city $5,698.71, complete 75 hours of community service and plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges, among other consequences. Brewer would not be charged with a hate crime because the art installation is city property, not a “member of a protected class,” Aronberg told OutSFL.

Rand Hoch is the president of Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC), an LGBTQ civil rights organization. Hoch said Brewer should have received a felony charge since he owes more than $5,000 –– the minimum amount for a crime to be classified as a felony in the county.

Hoch said he’s worried that Aronberg’s plea deal sends a message to the community that committing hateful acts like Brewer’s is acceptable. This is the second time the art has been intentionally damaged since its unveiling in 2021.

“That's why we wanted a strong penalty, so that people would know that if you do something like this, you're going to pay,” he said. “People are in shock. People feel that they can't be safe going to places where they're celebrating the achievements of our community.”

Hoch is also concerned about the implications of the deal. With a misdemeanor charge, Brewer has more rights such as purchasing a gun.

Though Aronberg said Florida law prevented him from charging Brewer with a hate crime, he said the plea deal wasn't soft.

“This punishment is not a light one for this criminal case,” Aronberg said.

Aronberg also affirmed that the city won’t tolerate hate: “Our office will always support the LGBTQ+ community and the enforcement of laws that protect against acts of prejudice. Hate has no place in Palm Beach County.”

A plea conference is scheduled for Jan. 8, where the deal would be finalized if a judge approves it. Hoch and PBCHRC are asking the judge to reject the plea deal and move forward with the trial.

Hoch said Delray Beach is an accepting city that harbors inclusive values. However, he said it’s frustrating when people get away with disrupting the city’s peace.

“We're resilient, but people need to be held accountable for their actions,” Hoch said.

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