Albany court mulls: Is gang member a terrorist?

Posted at: 10/08/2012 2:30 PM
By: Associated Press

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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, New York passed a law making it a crime to intimidate a civilian population through violence.

 
Now the NY State court of appealswill consider whether the street gangsters who crashed a Bronx christening party, starting a fight that left a 10-year-old bystander dead, are also terrorists who deserve longer prison time.
 
The question is whether Edgar Morales, a member of the St. James Boys convicted of the 2002 shooting, intended to intimidate the community or just send a message to rival gangsters.
 
A trial judge allowed the terrorism charges, and Morales was convicted and got 40 years to life in prison.
 
A midlevel court disagreed, ordering a shorter sentence, setting up Tuesday's first examination of the statute by the state's highest court.
 
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
 




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