Faces sentencing today in anti-gay bias attack

Friday, February 13, 2009

A Union City man will be sentenced today in a bias incident after admitting he choked his gay neighbor because of the victim's sexual orientation, officials said.

In December, Anthony Marrone, of the 1100 block of Palisade Avenue in Union City, pleaded guilty to bias intimidation in connection with the incident in the fall of 2007 and will face up to 18 months in prison when sentenced today, said Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Gerard Breland.

According to the allegations, Marrone called Richard Palazzo, who lives in the same building as Marrone, the "Queen of Union City." Palazzo responded that he was in fact the Queen of Union City, and Marrone then attacked him, Breland said.

Palazzo is expected to speak during the victim impact portion of the sentencing.

The sentencing will be at 9:30 a.m. before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale in the Hudson County Administration Building on Newark Avenue in Jersey City.

MICHAELANGELO CONTE