? The teen who police say stabbed and killed an Ecuadorian immigrant in Patchogue pleaded not guilty to murder as a hate crime Monday as the Suffolk Police Department?s record dealing with such crimes was called into question.

Jeffrey Conroy, 17, was ordered held without bail Monday. Prosecutors say he lunged 4-5 feet before plunging a knife into the chest of victim Marcelo Lucero on Nov. 8. Six other teens have pleaded not guilty to charges, including gang assault, in connection with the murder. Investigators say the group went out that night specifically looking to assault a Hispanic person.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Lucero?s family hurled allegations of cover ups against the police department. Fernando Mateo, of Hispanics Across America, accuses officers of re-working police reports to downplay the instances of bias crimes under the orders of County Executive Steve Levy.

Mateo used as evidence a BB gun incident that happened hours before Lucero?s death. Police say a Hispanic man was shot twice with the gun in Patchogue allegedly by two of the seven teens accused in Lucero?s stabbing. The incident was written up as a disturbance and does not mention a BB gun, a shooting or any aspect of a hate crime.

The police department had no immediate comment on the BB gun report, but a spokesman for Levy says it's the police department that decides which crimes are hate crimes based on a state law that defines hate crimes. The spokesman also said Levy has tried to expand the state?s definition of a hate crime for two years.

Still, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota as well as Hispanic community leaders are trying to reach out to victims of hate crimes that have gone unreported.

The Congregation Church of Patchogue will be opened up Wednesday, Dec. 3 for hate crime victims to go report their cases from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Organizers say they will not ask the immigration status of victims.

Conroy?s attorney, Bill Keahon, says his client will be proven innocent. If convicted, Conroy faces 20 years to life in prison.

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