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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTerrorist ring-leader who planned massacre in NY is allowed to roam streets again.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/07/05/3677042/man-admitted-plot-massacre-muslims-set-free-judge-not-convinced-hes-true-threat/Excerpts:
"Robert Rankin Doggart, a former candidate for Congress, admitted in federal court to plotting the annihilation of a village in New York that is home to many Muslims. Doggarts plans included burning down a school, a mosque and a cafeteria, according to the criminal complaint.
Were gonna be carrying an M4 with 500 rounds of ammunition, light armor piercing. A pistol with three extra magazines, and a machete. And if it gets down to the machete, we will cut them to shreds, Doggart allegedly said according to the transcript of a wiretap cited in the complaint. He also allegedly tried to recruit other individuals to participate in his plot through a Facebook group.
As part of a plea agreement, Doggart pled guilt to interstate communication of threats and faces up to five years in prison. He was in jail awaiting final sentencing.
But a federal judge, Curtis Collier, may not accept the guilty plea. Hes ordered the prosecution and defense to produce briefs proving that Doggart was a true threat. Meanwhile, a different federal judge, Magistrate Susan K. Lee, released Doggart from jail into the custody of two family members."
And here's a pic of the guy who literally practiced with his M4 how to shoot up a crowd. Don't worry. A judge said he's totally harmless:
louis-t
(23,371 posts)and eagles and shit..
csziggy
(34,147 posts)HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)I'm wondering if there's dementia or senility. He could be ranting about all kinds of nonsense, without the mental faculties to carry it out. I see no mention of his being a leader of any kind of ring...were others arrested? What became of this "ring"? I assume his weapons were taken away. Would really like more in depth before making a judgement.
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)He did try to recruit others for this attack. Don't know if he found followers.
I read an article about him a few months ago. It said that he practiced with his machine-gun how to mow down a crowd. If you start practicing your attack, you are beyond "ranting".
spanone
(136,221 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)That. Is. Rich.
I wonder where this "true threat" concern is among federal judges when the accused terrorist is some impressionable teen-ager, carefully groomed for months by the FBI and supplied by the FBI with bogus weapons to take advantage of that youth and incomplete brain development? One wonders if many young men, currently rotting away in federal prisons, would have accomplished anything with their inchoate hostilities if not for the material assistance of our faultless federal agents.
But Mr. Doggart, who appears from his photo to be a grown man of some years, who plotted a rather detailed plan all by himself, still hasn't quite proven himself to Judge Collier to be a "true threat." Magistrate Judge Lee is apparently unconvinced as well, allowing Mr. Doggart to go back into the community where it's still easier for someone of his proclivities to get hold of guns and explosives than to get treatment for his mental issues.
God bless America, though.