Life Protecting the Trailer Park from Undesirables?

T-post Tom · 03-08-2012, 10:00 PM

Three plead guilty in Independence hate crime

Three people have now pleaded guilty to hate crimes involving the torching of a bi-racial man’s mobile home in Independence.

Charles Wilhelm and David Martin, both 23, pleaded in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to violate civil rights and to violation of the Fair Housing Act, prosecutors announced Thursday.

A federal investigation found that the men, and a third defendant, wanted to scare and intimidate the victim so he would move out of the Highland Manor mobile home park in Independence in 2006.

The men and Teresa Witthar entered the victim’s home in June of that year and wrote at least 15 racially derogatory messages and slurs and drew swastikas on the walls. Two days later, Witthar drove the men to the mobile home and the men set it on fire.

Witthar, 43, pleaded guilty in February to the rights charges as well as obstruction of justice. She admitted that she had a romantic relationship with the victim and, when he ended it, she joined Wilhelm and Martin — friends of her son — in a plan to intimidate the victim.

When Witthar became aware of a federal investigation into the incidents, she tried to get another of her son’s friends to lie and blame the fire entirely on Wilhelm because he had a criminal record and was in jail at the time.

“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that all Americans are able to occupy their homes without fear of racially-motivated reprisals,” said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division. “As this case illustrates, the Civil Rights Division will aggressively prosecute anyone who attacks and destroys a home based on the race of the person who lives there.”

Sentencing dates have not been scheduled. Conspiracy to violate civil rights and violation of the housing act each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison. Obstruction carries a maximum of 20 years.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/08...ependence.html

Pablo · 03-08-2012, 10:01 PM

Oh, Independence.

You're almost not a cancer.

Disgruntled_Parent via SR's IP in GA · 03-08-2012, 10:09 PM

Independence = where there's more ventilator machines than petite blondes.

**Bugeater** · 03-08-2012, 10:20 PM

Huh, I thought the Fair Housing Act just protected you from landlords.

03-08-2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Huh, I thought the Fair Housing Act just protected you from landlords.

There are special provisions for Meth labs, I think.

03-08-2012, 10:00 PM
T-post Tom Busy in a Kohl's restroom Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $1757293	Protecting the Trailer Park from Undesirables? Three plead guilty in Independence hate crime Three people have now pleaded guilty to hate crimes involving the torching of a bi-racial man’s mobile home in Independence. Charles Wilhelm and David Martin, both 23, pleaded in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to violate civil rights and to violation of the Fair Housing Act, prosecutors announced Thursday. A federal investigation found that the men, and a third defendant, wanted to scare and intimidate the victim so he would move out of the Highland Manor mobile home park in Independence in 2006. The men and Teresa Witthar entered the victim’s home in June of that year and wrote at least 15 racially derogatory messages and slurs and drew swastikas on the walls. Two days later, Witthar drove the men to the mobile home and the men set it on fire. Witthar, 43, pleaded guilty in February to the rights charges as well as obstruction of justice. She admitted that she had a romantic relationship with the victim and, when he ended it, she joined Wilhelm and Martin — friends of her son — in a plan to intimidate the victim. When Witthar became aware of a federal investigation into the incidents, she tried to get another of her son’s friends to lie and blame the fire entirely on Wilhelm because he had a criminal record and was in jail at the time. “The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that all Americans are able to occupy their homes without fear of racially-motivated reprisals,” said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division. “As this case illustrates, the Civil Rights Division will aggressively prosecute anyone who attacks and destroys a home based on the race of the person who lives there.” Sentencing dates have not been scheduled. Conspiracy to violate civil rights and violation of the housing act each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison. Obstruction carries a maximum of 20 years. http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/08...ependence.html
Posts: 22,376

03-08-2012, 10:01 PM	#2
Pablo Ultrabanned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northland Casino cash: $-1860644	Oh, Independence. You're almost not a cancer.
Posts: 43,910

03-08-2012, 10:09 PM	#3
Disgruntled_Parent via SR's IP in GA Sorry Just "Disgruntled_Parent Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Private Information Casino cash: $10004900	Independence = where there's more ventilator machines than petite blondes.
Posts: 112

03-08-2012, 10:20 PM	#4
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $3992680	Huh, I thought the Fair Housing Act just protected you from landlords.
Posts: 70,546