The 19-year-old Baltimore man charged with killing a Hispanic man early Saturday told police he committed the crime because he hated "Mexicans."

Jermaine R. Holley is charged with first-degree murder and a hate crime in the beating death of 51-year-old Martin Reyes. According to charging documents, Holley confessed and "stated his reasoning was due to his hatred toward 'Mexicans.'"

The killing in the 200 block of N. Kenwood Ave. is the latest in a string of attacks against Hispanics in East Baltimore. Police officers and neighborhood volunteers walked through the largely Spanish-speaking neighborhood Saturday urging residents to cooperate with police.

Holley, of the 3600 block of Erdman Ave., was turned in by his family, charging documents say. Police say Holley punched and kicked Reyes in the head and face, then hit him repeatedly with a wooden stake.

Holley was ordered jailed last month after failing to appear for a probation violation stemming from a 2009 case, according to court records.

In July 2009, Holley was sentenced to three years' probation for misdemeanor drug charges. In April, he was picked up on a new drug charge and in June for failing to pay taxi fare.

On July 13, Holley failed to appear in court for the probation violation. District Court Judge L. Robert Cooper issued a bench warrant ordering that he be held without bail. Within days, the judge recalled the warrant. It was not clear Sunday whether Holley spent any time in jail or why Cooper recalled the warrant.

"That's a discretionary decision that each judge makes," said Margaret T. Burns, spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office, calling it a civil proceeding that did not involve her office.