S. Poli, min. (AP)-Two Illinois men who helped bomb a Minnesota mosque in 2017 on Tuesday were sentenced to less than the mandatory 35-year minimum they faced after victims and prosecutors apologized for cooperating and witnessed the men. Against the organization of an attack.
Michael McWorter, 33, was sentenced to less than 16 years in prison, while Joe Morris, 26, was sentenced to approximately 14 years. Both testified at the 2020 trial of Emily Claire Harry, the leader of a small Illinois militia group called the White Rabbits.
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank said Tuesday that the man’s “substantial help” allows him to impose fines that are less than the legal minimum. Reported by the Star Tribune.
Frank admitted that the men were under Harry’s influence, but denied their lawyers’ request for 10 years in prison, saying their seven -month conviction was against everything America stands for.
“When it’s all said and done,” Frank said, “nothing less can help the law.”
No one was injured on August 5, 2017, when a pipe bomb exploded in the Imam’s office as worshipers gathered for morning prayers, but community members were shaken by the incident and the mosque executive said. confirmed at Harry’s trial that he was responsible. Fear and reduced participation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Etten asked Frank to reduce by 50% the mandatory minimum sentence for Mackworth and Morris, a requirement they both said Frank said was rare. But Ethan asked Frank to sentence him to less than 15 years and said a light sentence would send the wrong message.
Imam Mohammed Omar, executive director of the Dar al-Farouk Center, asked other clerics and religious leaders to sign an open letter asking for forgiveness. Omar called Mackworth and Morris two young men “temporarily immersed in the darkness of Emily Harry’s world”.
“The damage that happened is real, the crime that was committed is real, the horrible thing that happened that day is real, but the real thing is also our ability to receive real forgiveness and lead by example”, he said. its in the letter. “We believe that only through forgiveness can we have real opportunity for healing and progress.”
McWorter and Morris pleaded guilty in 2019 in several cases.
Their testimony at Harry’s trial showed that Harry told them to drop a bomb tube in the middle while Harry was waiting in a rented truck. Morris testified that Harry told him the mosque was training ISIS fighters, which the mosque denied and never claimed by prosecutors.
Harry is the leader of a group called “White Rabbits 3 Percent Illinois Patriot Freedom Fighters”. In addition to bombing the mosque, the group also stole Wal-Mart air rifles, attempted to extort Canadian railroads, raided homes, and attempted to bomb a women’s health clinic in Champaign, Illinois.
McWorter said Tuesday that he fears he will kill Harry and Morris if he does not carry out his plan.
“I am bombing the mosque. “But it’s not an option,” he said. “I was scared for my life when I bombed the mosque. I didn’t do it just out of pure anger.” I don’t hate Muslims “.
McWorter said that during the four years he spent in prison after his arrest, he studied at his GED and read books about Islam. He said he bought some Muslim friends in prison, some of whom wrote letters to Frank for him.
Morris apologized to those hurt, and said he was ashamed to believe what Harry said.
“What I did was very, very wrong,” he continued. “But I beg your mercy.”
He said he would return to the Amish community he used to live in after completing his captivity and said “this is the only time in my life” where I have shown “support and love”. Several members of this community are in court.
Chris Madel, McWorter’s attorney, told the court that McWorter committed the crime “at Harry’s invitation, education and plan.” Madeleine said her client manipulated Harry’s lies about Muslims.
Morris’s attorney Robert Richman said his client suffered from an unspecified mental illness, including schizophrenia and depression. Richman wrote in court documents that Harry took advantage of Morris’ illness and told him to follow the “angels” who spoke to him.
Harry also used special powers on Morris, Richman said in a statement. “No one in the world was closer to him. When Harry told Joe to do something, Joe did it. Harry was a hero to Josh. He felt like Harry accepted him.
Source: Huffpost
