Chicago Gay Man Suffers Brass Knuckle Assault, Suspect In Custody

LGBT, NewsBites — By Speak Equal on December 16, 2009 at 1:19 pm

ELGIN — A South Elgin man was the victim of a hate crime Monday night in Elgin, police said.

Marcus J. Crimaldi, 23, allegedly used brass knuckles to hit the man in the face repeatedly while screaming “fag” at him, according to police.

Crimaldi allegedly was hitting the man because he believed the victim was gay, police on the scene reported. The victim did not require medical attention at the scene, police said.

At the time of his arrest late Monday night, Crimaldi reportedly led arresting officers to believe that the incident was “provoked because of the sexual orientation of the victim,” Elgin Deputy Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said.

Crimaldi has been charged with one count of Class 4 felony hate crime and two counts of Class 3 felony aggravated battery. If convicted of the charges, each Class 3 charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison plus fines.

In bond court on Tuesday morning in Elgin, Kane County Judge Bruce Lester set Crimaldi’s bail at $50,000.

The judge indicated that the decision to set bail at that amount stemmed from the nature of the alleged crime and Crimaldi’s criminal background. [FULL STORY]

Tags: Assault, Chicago, Elgin, GLBT, Hate, Hate Crime, LGBT, LGBT