BETHALTO — Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine has modified the charges against Joshua J. Morrison after a vicious assault incident on July 19, 2025, at an apartment complex in Bethalto . Morrison was initially charged with aggravated arson, arson, aggravated battery, and now, as of Monday, July 28, 2025, is charged with a hate crime, authorities said. The State's Attorney now charges that Morrison faces a Class 4 felony hate crime charge for battering Winston Rulo because of his perceived sexual orientation after an investigation of the incident. This is the exact new charge filed by the Madison County State's Attorney's Office: COUNT IV: HATE CRIME (CLASS 4 FELONY): "in that said defendant, by reason of the perceived sexual orientation of Winston Rulo, knowingly battered the victim in violation of 720 ILCS 5/12-3(a) in that defendant repeatedly struck the victim about the face and head with his fists, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/12-7.1." Karen Alexander Mack,
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