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First Patriot Front trial: five defendants, five convictions
https://cdapress.com/news/2023/jul/20/patriot-front-members-convicted/A jury has convicted five Patriot Front members of the misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to riot by disturbing the public peace.
After about an hour of deliberation Thursday, the six-person jury returned separate, unanimous guilty verdicts for Devin W. Center, James J. Johnson, Forrest C. Rankin, Derek J. Smith and Robert B. Whitted.
Wes Somerton, chief criminal deputy city attorney for Coeur d’Alene, said he was surprised by the swift verdict.
After about an hour of deliberation Thursday, the six-person jury returned separate, unanimous guilty verdicts for Devin W. Center, James J. Johnson, Forrest C. Rankin, Derek J. Smith and Robert B. Whitted.
Wes Somerton, chief criminal deputy city attorney for Coeur d’Alene, said he was surprised by the swift verdict.
The maximum sentence for this crime is one year in jail and a $5000 fine. These guys' biggest problem right now is Coeur d'Alene, ID, as hard right as it is, has VERY long memories of the Aryan Nations and other white supremacist groups. I think they'll get the maximum punishment. I will keep you fine folks apprised as to what their fate becomes - I'm writing this before the courthouse opens.
Their defense attorney, one Robert Sargent of Spokane, WA, reported that "
t)hey were citizens who had a right to have their words heard and did not have an intent to harm anyone." Cd'A Deputy City Attorney Ryan Hunter responded with, "They knew going in there that their conduct was likely to cause a disturbance of the peace, if not a full riot." They came to town with shields, hats reinforced with hard plastic inserts, knee pads, shin guards and gloves. They hid their faces with masks and put their phones in cell signal-blocking bags. They also came with a bullhorn through which their leader Thomas Rousseau would give a speech, the text of which was entered into evidence, that fits into Idaho's definition of fighting words and is therefore speech not protected by the First Amendment.
Here's the best part: Two of the defendants, both of Conroe, Texas, stated in testimony that when they got on the road to come to Coeur d'Alene, they didn't even know which state they were going to. Conroe is a suburb of Houston. According to Google Maps, the shortest route from Conroe to Coeur d'Alene is 2046 miles long.
