Man threatened to ‘rape and murder’ bouncer at Taylor Swift-themed event in DC, feds say

A jury has found a man guilty of violently threatening a woman working security outside a Taylor Swift-themed event and assaulting two men who passed by in Washington, D.C., federal prosecutors said.

Franklin Siate followed, then attacked the men in August because of “their perceived LGBTQ-status,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Siate, 42, of D.C., was convicted on Dec. 12 of two assault charges that carry a hate crime enhancement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced in a news release.

His defense attorney, Lauckland A. Nicholas, didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Dec. 13.

Prosecutors said Siate approached several individuals waiting in line for a Taylor Swift dance party event at the 9:30 Club the evening of Aug. 3.

He yelled at the patrons, then threatened “to rape and murder” a female bouncer who was protecting them, according to prosecutors.

Then he zeroed in on two men who were holding hands and being affectionate with each other as they walked past the venue and down the street, prosecutors said.

Siate followed the men and called out, saying “gays cannot hold hands in my city” and “you’re in my living room,” according to prosecutors.

He also hurled a slur toward them, prosecutors said.

Then, Siate grabbed a sign from a nearby business, lifted it above his head and charged at the pair until he was stopped by a Metropolitan Police Department officer, prosecutors said.

The officer’s intervention resulted in Siate’s arrest, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Afterward, Siate was released “on personal reconnaissance” and then was “arrested on new, unrelated charges” on Aug. 31, prosecutors said.

He’s been detained since Sept. 9, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

His sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 10 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, prosecutors said.

This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Man threatened to ‘rape and murder’ bouncer at Taylor Swift-themed event in DC, feds say."

Julia Marnin

McClatchy DC

Julia Marnin covers courts for McClatchy News, writing about criminal and civil affairs, including cases involving policing, corrections, civil liberties, fraud, and abuses of power. As a reporter on McClatchy’s National Real-Time Team, she’s also covered the COVID-19 pandemic and a variety of other topics since joining in 2021, following a fellowship with Newsweek. Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, she was raised in South Jersey and is now based in New York State.