The Fact These Three Are
Jewish Makes Them Special
Alabama's Attorney General
May Back Down
Troy King is under pressure from
the ADL, SPLC, Federal Prosecutor, and Jewish Groups
Isn't This Special
Three Jewish men burned down nine churches, and were arrested in
March of 2006 on federal charges. Within four days, the group was
granted bail by federal authorities, but Alabama authorities issued
arrest warrants, and the trio decided to stay in federal custody.
Every effort possible (money, free scholarships, political
pressure, etc) has been put forward to settle this. On June 7th,
2006, the federal and state are close to an agreement.
The new proposal is "No jail time" and "No trial"
Trial Date Set for Alabama Church Arson Suspects
The three college students arrested in March for
the burnings of nine rural churches in Alabama will most likelynever go to trial.
The trial date was moved from June to November, a
delay, according to sources, that is the result of infighting
over aplea agreement among federal prosecutors,
Alabama’s attorney general and three county prosecutors.
At issue is where the three will serve their jail
time.
Plea Bargain in the Alabama Church Burnings?
Posted Tuesday, Jun.
06, 2006
The three college students arrested in March for the burnings of
nine rural churches in Alabama will most likely
never go to trial,
sources in the case tell TIME. Judge John E. Ott announced Monday that
their trial date has been moved from June to November — a delay,
according to the sources, that is the result of infighting over a plea
agreement among federal prosecutors, the Alabama state attorney and
three county prosecutors. The issue: where the trio will serve their
jail time.
But in this racially charged case
(five of the churches burned were predominantly black), bringing justice
home is an issue. "They will do time in Alabama. I am not bending on
that," says Bibb County DA Michael Jackson. Meanwhile, Alabama Attorney
General Troy King, who is up for re-election this year, says he will not
agree to a sentence and jail time that's federal only. "These were
Alabama churches, Alabama congregations and there will be Alabama
consequences."
If a plea bargain is reached, however, a lot of Alabamans may feel
cheated. After their arrest, Cloyd, DeBusk and
Moseley said they had set the first of five fires as a spontaneous joke,
then followed it with four more fires intended as cover. Without
a trial, all the details of their crimes — and how much planning went
into them — may never be known.
November trial date
set for 3 defendants in Alabama church arsons
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)
-- A November trial date has been set in federal court for three college
students charged in a string of church arsons in Alabama, although
plea
agreements remain possible.
The three, who
initialy had a June trial date that was set aside, have
entered pleas of not guilty,
but court documents and defense attorneys have indicated there is an
interest in plea agreements that would dispose of all state and federal
charges at the same time.
Church Arson Trial Postponed
BIRMINGHAM,
Ala. -- The trial for three suspects accused of arson in the
burning of nine Alabama churches will not happen until later this year.
On Friday, a judge decided to continue the
trial until fall, but did not set a date. Russell Debusk,
Benjamin Moseley, and Matthew Cloyd have all pleaded not guilty
to setting the fires.
AG, churches discuss arson suspects
ALICEVILLE -
Alabama Attorney General Troy King began a series of
meetings Sunday with members of nine churches
that were torched in a string of arsons, and listened to their ideas
on possible penalties for three college students charged in the
blazes.
One Dancy member spoke in favor of no prison time,
a move she said would let the three repay their debts and avoid the
possibility of becoming hardened criminals behind bars.
King and Pickens County District Attorney Chris McCool drew "Amens"
from the congregation when they said prison time was a certainty for
anyone convicted in the fires. Attorneys for all three defendants have
indicated a desire to discuss possible plea deals.