Posted on 04/26/2006 11:46:03 AM PDT by prairiebreeze
(AP) MILWAUKEE Four Democratic presidential campaign workers were sentenced to jail time ranging from four months to six months Wednesday for puncturing the tires of Republican vehicles on Election Day 2004.
The men had pleaded no contest in January to misdemeanor property damage. A fifth worker was found not guilty.
Those who pleaded no contest were Sowande A. Omokunde, the son of Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee; Michael Pratt, the son of former acting Milwaukee Mayor Marvin Pratt; and Lewis Caldwell and Lavelle Mohammad, both from Milwaukee.
They originally were charged with felony property damage but accepted plea deals on the lesser charge.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Michael Brennan rejected prosecutors' recommendation of probation and no jail time.
"This case had to be a public example of what can happen when you interfere with voters' rights," Brennan said. The men faced a maximum nine-month jail term and fines of $10,000.
Congresswoman Moore said, "I love my son very much. I'm very proud of him. He's accepted responsibility."
The state Republican Party had rented more than 100 vehicles that were parked in a lot next to a Bush-Cheney campaign office to give rides to voters and poll monitors on Nov. 2, 2004. The vandalism caused some delays in the GOP's Election Day work as party workers rounded up different vehicles.
Democrat John Kerry won Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes in a close race.
Omokunde was sentenced to four months, Mohammad to five months and Caldwell and Pratt to six months. All were granted work-release privileges.
Brennan also ordered them to pay a $1,000 fine each, in addition to the $5,317 in total restitution ordered earlier.
Justin Howell was the only one who did not take part in the plea deal, and jurors found him not guilty.
He probably got a better lawyer then the others
You are SO right...and every time Kerry opens his mouth, I am more and more convinced there had to be "divine intervention"...
Wonder who got to him?
Young Mr. Caldwell will certainly have a full dance card in the slam.
ouch.
I'm sure you're really proud of your Dem operative, tire-slashing thug son, Congresswoman Moore!
Four Democratic presidential campaign workers were sentenced to jail time ranging from four months to six months Wednesday for puncturing the tires of Republican vehicles on Election Day 2004.
Which car maker builds "Republican vehicles"? That's right up there with the headline I saw in a local paper saying the SUV killed a kid.
DFU SONG: Brady Bunch (Supreme Solar Allah, really, slashes tires of GOP vehicles)
DFU SONGS | 11-2004 | Lyrics, Doug from Upland
Posted on 11/05/2004 11:24:46 AM PST by doug from upland
Here's the story...Supreme Solar Allah
Friends, I swear to you I didn't coin that name
He had been out playing tricks and slashing tires
That's how he's come to fame
Here's the story...of his mom named Gwen Moore
She had raised him to hate the GOP
She will soon leave to go serve in Congress
Maxine she'll love to see
As we watch this story playing out with interest
We all know just where this thing is gonna go
Supreme Solar Allah was arrested
He's a victim as a black man, don't you know
You ought to know...you ought to know
He's arrested because he's black, you know
If these weasels had done this to a Democrat for the local Bush re-election effort this would have been a scandal of Nixonian proportion...after all, we all know Bush lies.
30 Republican Party rented vans had tires slashed (Milwaukee, WI)
Kweise Mfume's love child?
Bump; ping.
Omokunde was sentenced to four months, Mohammad to five months and Caldwell and Pratt to six months. All were granted work-release privileges.
@@@@@
What does "work-release priveleges" mean? They are going to spend 4 months of Friday nights and Saturdays in jail minus time off for good behavior, bringing the total sentence down to 4 Friday nights?
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