M E D I A   R E L E A S E For Immediate Release April 24, 2006 Steven Pomie Receives 25 Years in Anti-Gay Attack Sentence gives some measure of justice to Dwan Prince; Anti-Violence Project Continues to Have Questions About Accomplices New York – Less than a month after he was found guilty, Steven Pomie, was received the maximum sentence allowable for his part in the brutal anti-gay assault on Dwan Prince in Brownsville, Brooklyn last June.  Prince was savagely beaten by three men screaming anti-gay slurs, and in the days after the attack, authorities identified Pomie as part of the group responsible for the beating.  The attack took place outside Prince's apartment building in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn On March 28, Pomie was found guilty of Assault in the 1st Degree, and Assault in the First Degree as a hate crime.  He was sentenced today to 25 years for each count, to be served concurrently.  The judge in the case, is also requiring that Pomie undergo mandatory psychiatric treatment. "Last summer's assault on Dwan Prince was probably the most vicious hate violence attack against our community last year," said Clarence Patton, the Anti-Violence Project's executive director. Prince, who gave dramatic testimony during the trial, also delivered part of a victim impact statement today, though was unable to finish.  His mother completed delivering his statement and also delivered her own.  Prince has made remarkable strides towards recovery.  The attack left him in a coma for a period of time and he suffered a number of injuries that will require ongoing rehabilitation.  "We sincerely hope that today's sentencing and the knowledge that Steven Pomie will not be able to touch Dwan for a long, long time gives some measure of solace to Dwan and his loved ones, though we all know that their lives will never be the same," added Patton.  "We do know unfortunately, that Dwan and those who love and care about  him will live with the effects of this brutal attack for the rest of their lives, and that there can never be recompense for that," Patton said.  "We again commend the District Attorney and the police investigators who worked on this case, as well as the Anti-Violence Project's volunteers and staff who worked to get information from the community in the immediate wake of the attack on Dwan," Patton added.  "Nevertheless, we continue to have questions about why some of the individuals who were apparently part of the attack on Dwan were not or have not been brought to trial or charged and are following up with the District Attorney's Office on that issue" Patton concluded. According to Anti-Violence Project statistics, the organization on average receives a call about a new anti-LGTB incident every 12 hours, and a call about a new anti-LGTB assault every 36 hours. In 2004, the Anti-Violence Project served over 2,000 victims of violence. The Anti-Violence Project's annual reports on hate and domestic violence can be accessed online at http://www.avp.org/. The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is the nation's largest service agency for victims of bias crimes against the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected communities. Since 1980, AVP has provided counseling and advocacy for tens of thousands of survivors of bias-motivated and domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, HIV-related violence, and police misconduct. AVP documents incidents of violence against and within LGTB communities, educates the public about the effects of violence, against or within our communities, and works to reform public policies impacting all lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected people. AVP provides free and confidential assistance to crime victims through its 24-hour bilingual hotline (212-714-1141)