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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCouple in GA who terrorized a black children's birthday party sentenced today.
They and a dozen others rode around in pickup trucks, flying US and Confederate flags, guns raised, yelling threats and racists crap at black children and their parents having a birthday party.
The judge sentenced a man to 20 years, to serve 13, and his wife to six years. After they are relleased, they can no longer live in that county.
I don't have a link yet to accurately report the sentences, but the Judge cut them no slack, no grace.
IdiotsforPalin
(170 posts)Ilsa
(61,695 posts)The story was reported in the NYT.
Maru Kitteh
(28,340 posts)Bravo!
50 Shades Of Blue
(10,004 posts)It does my heart good to see that people who commit hate crimes finally getting appropriate jail sentences. Maybe the next human garbage that feels the urge to act out their hate fantasies in this manner will ask themselves first if it's worth it. So far, the "Trump is now president, I can do this!" line has not been met with such a forceful "no, you can't!" from a judge with the power to put some teeth behind his statement. Was the sentence harsh? Yes. But no harsher than traumatizing a helpless kid on his birthday.
Charles Bukowski
(1,132 posts)Winning!
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,002 posts)Runningdawg
(4,517 posts)malaise
(269,020 posts)Bravo
calimary
(81,295 posts)DOMESTIC TERRORISTS.
D-O-M-E-S-T-I-C T-E-R-R-O-R-I-S-T-S.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)... after they've served their sentence?
Is this an opening for a clever appeals lawyer to have the sentence reviewed and reduced?
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Parents are still working with their kids on the hatred shown them?
oasis
(49,388 posts)Donald Trump found out the hard way.
cstanleytech
(26,293 posts)in which case they would have to abide by the terms of it or risk going back to jail.
malaise
(269,020 posts)They used a Georgia gang law to convict them.
Remember though that this horrific behavior took pace shortly after Dylan Roof murdered those nine African-Americans in their church and the racist flag was taken down.
The cow bawling in court today had me laughing. Now she knows what that family and their friends experienced with their racist attack.
NYC Liberal
(20,136 posts)But what she said was pathetic:
After telling the court that she accepted responsibility for her actions, Norton turned to the area of the courtroom where families who attended the birthday party were seated.
"But I want you all to know that that is not me," Norton told them. "That is not me."
An "apology" in the passive voice and then claiming that somehow her actions "weren't her".
ATL Ebony
(1,097 posts)csziggy
(34,136 posts)One article said, "Douglas Assistant District Attorney David Emadi detailed how the group had gone on a drunken rampage through Douglas and Paulding counties on July 24 and July 25, 2015, in pickup trucks laden with Confederate battle flags." http://www.ajc.com/news/local/judge-orders-stiff-sentences-for-two-douglasville-hate-crime/pHWEb5zXxdVqGBGxGNtorI/ But the article never mentioned where the group that was driving around was from.
It does say that the "Respect the Flag" rally was held in Paulding County.
sheshe2
(83,773 posts)Excellent news.
csziggy
(34,136 posts)by: Steve Gehlbach, Tyisha Fernandes Updated: Feb 27, 2017 - 4:43 PM
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - A young couple was sentenced to prison for their part in a racially charged crime.
A Douglas County judge sentenced the defendants to a year longer in prison than the state was seeking: 13 years for Jose Torres and 6 years for Kayla Norton.
The couple, who have three children, was part of a larger group in July 2015 called Respect the Flag. Their convoy of trucks, flying the Confederate battle flag, pulled up to a birthday party for an 8-year-old black child.
The couple was found guilty of yelling racial slurs and threatening to kill party-goers, even the kids. Prosecutors said Torres pointed a shotgun at the party.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/couple-sentenced-for-hate-crime-involving-confederate-flags/497957531
ETA - original story from the same source: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/woman-says-men-confederate-flags-threatened-her-fa/33079157
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Heard on tv, and there were no links yet.
Initech
(100,079 posts)And it's not white terrorism, Trump will tell you.
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)That's odd.
tblue37
(65,383 posts)terrorists. He called the cops' decision "inexplicable."
Demsrule86
(68,582 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Racist assholes. I hope every minute of their time in prison is miserable.
George II
(67,782 posts)....railroaded, and very angry.
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)Demsrule86
(68,582 posts)But I was horrified at how young they are...they threw their lives away and their kid's lives as well...so sad.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Those kids are gonna need years of therapy.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Don't know if I could.
Also not sure if she felt she had to forgive the woman because she was scared of retribution from other bigots if she didn't.
drm604
(16,230 posts)What kind of asshole terrorizes a child's birthday party?
SHRED
(28,136 posts)It's that simple.
If they weren't caught they'd still be doing this or worse.
hatrack
(59,587 posts)"Respect The Flag" - right, and threaten your neighbors with a shotgun.
Assholes.
Turbineguy
(37,336 posts)and listened to nutjob hate radio!
Think of it as an upmarket version of joining ISIS. Instead of being shot and eaten by dogs, you go to jail.
TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)Assholes!
cab67
(2,993 posts)They didn't just disrupt a birthday party. It looks like they drove around town brandishing shotguns.
world wide wally
(21,744 posts)Now, how about that guy selling out our country to the Russians and terrorizing Mexican children?
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Cruel racist fuckers at least 2 will see some punishment
brer cat
(24,567 posts)K&R
TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)to sentence these creeps to such long terms...
http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-16/chapter-15/16-15-4
Iggo
(47,558 posts)Very crooked.
uponit7771
(90,346 posts)mdbl
(4,973 posts)I am glad a judge who recognized their heinous crime was presiding. If it had been Jeff Sessions he would have smacked their hands with a ruler and said 'Now y'all be nice'
Stinky The Clown
(67,806 posts)The don't deserve to live in this country among good and decent people.
Initech
(100,079 posts)linuxman
(2,337 posts)Good call.
chwaliszewski
(1,514 posts)The worst decision Ive ever made in my life was to not walk away when I had the chance.
Therein is the problem with people who think like that. The worst decision is not what you've said but is, in fact, even having racist thoughts to begin with. To me, it's no different than someone saying "The worst decision I've ever made was using too much heroin." You shouldn't be using any to begin with.
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)townie
(38 posts)P
LonePirate
(13,424 posts)Personally, I think they received light sentences. They need more time behind bars to contemplate how despicable they truly are.