NORWICH – The Chenango County Judge dismissed the hate crime charges against the man accused of shooting an unarmed black man in July 2015.

Wayne Spratley, of Greene was charged per grand jury indictment with attempted murder in the second degree as a hate crime, assault in the first degree as a hate crime, and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree as a hate crime.

Additionally, he was charged with attempted murder in the second degree, a class B violent felony; assault in the first degree, a class B violent felony; and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree, a class B felony.

Per the decision and order from Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr., he dismissed the top three counts that allege the incident was a hate crime due to a number of factors.

“New York’s Hate Crimes Act became law in 2000, becoming the 44th state to pass such a law,” read the decision obtained by the County Clerk’s Office Thursday. “As the ‘Legislative findings’ attached to 485.05 of the Penal Law state, ‘Hate crimes do more than threaten the safety and welfare of all citizens, they inflict on victims incalculable physical and emotional damage and tear away at the very fabric of free society.”