Hate crime charge in Prop. 8 sign attack

(10-29) 06:48 PDT Torrance, CA (AP) --

A Torrance man has been charged with a felony hate crime assault for allegedly using an anti-gay marriage "Yes on Prop. 8" lawn sign to attack a gay man wearing a "No on 8" button.

Prosecutor Janet Wilson says 23-year-old Joseph Storm and the 22-year-old victim got into a squabble early Sunday on a Torrance street.

The prosecutor says it's unclear if the dispute centered on same-sex marriage ban Proposition 8. Storm told investigators he was angry because the man had tossed the pro-proposition sign into the street and was littering.

Wilson says Storm allegedly used the "Yes on Prop. 8" lawn sign to knock down the victim, who was then punched and choked while Storm allegedly uttered a homosexual slur.