Elburn man charged with hate crime for hitting gay man

An Elburn man was charged with a hate crime Tuesday for striking a gay man in the face with a metal object, police said.

Marcus Crimaldi, 23, of the 2S800 block of Red Oak Drive, was arrested after the altercation at 11:35 p.m. Monday at South Grove and East Chicago streets in Elgin.

Deputy Chief Jeff Swoboda said Elgin police believe Crimaldi struck the victim, a South Elgin man, because he was homosexual. Crimaldi hit the man while clenching an unspecified metal object in his fist, police said.

Swoboda, citing preliminary reports, said the victim did not appear to be seriously injured and was not hospitalized. The events leading up to the altercation remain unclear.

Crimaldi was charged with a Class 4 felony hate crime and two counts of aggravated battery. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the most serious offense.

A Kane County judge set Crimaldi's bond at $50,000; he would need to post $5,000 for release. His next court date is Jan. 6 in front of Judge James C. Hallock.

In 2007, Crimaldi was convicted of criminal property damage and burglary in Elgin, and received 24 months of probation in each case, according to court records. His attorney could not be reached for comment.