April 12, 2022 (UPDATED June 16, 2022 and Nov. 29, 2022)

The Broward State Attorney’s Office filed hate crime charges on Tuesday against three individuals accused of severely beating a man based on his sexual orientation.

The victim, 31, of Pompano Beach, was severely beaten during an incident that occurred in the city on or about August 6, 2021. He has been permanently blinded and sustained other serious injuries as a result of the incident. He has invoked Marsy’s Law rights.

The defendants, arrested by the Broward Sheriff’s Office on March 10, are:

Inna Makarenko (DOB 05/02/1977) Case # 22002505CF10A

Yevhen Makarenko (DOB 04/23/1978) Case # 22002590CF10A

Oleh Makarenko (DOB 10/25/2000) Case # 22002506CF10A

They are charged with attempted first-degree murder, battery during the burglary of a dwelling, and kidnapping. The three charges were filed against all three defendants as hate crimes. The maximum possible penalty for each of the three charges is life in state prison.

A fourth person, Vladyslav Makarenko (DOB 11/4/1996), was transferred from Alabama to the Broward County jail system on Monday. Prosecutors are reviewing the case against him and formal charges have not been filed at this time. UPDATED June 16, 2022, prosecutors dropped the case against Vladyslav Makarenko on June 16, 2022, immediately after his defense provided evidence that he was not in the region at the time of the incident. UPDATED Nov. 29, 2022, prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against a fifth suspect, who was not publicly identified by the State Attorney’s Office, because there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction.

The investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office is continuing. More information and public records are available at www.browardclerk.org

The State Attorney’s Office Hate Crimes Unit is handling the cases.

Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor recently created the new unit to combat hate crimes, raise public awareness of this issue, and help increase reporting of such crimes in our community. To learn more or to report a potential hate crime, please visit https://browardsao.com/hate-crimes-unit/ or call our Hate Crimes Hotline at 954-831-8059. (In an emergency, call 911.)

Contact: The Broward State Attorney’s Office
mediarelations@sao17.state.fl.us or 954-831-7910
https://browardsao.com