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Feds not charging Matthews in mosque incident
Saturday, January 27, 2007
LEWISTON - No federal charges will be lodged against the city man who rolled a pig's head into a local mosque last year.
"We're not going forward with our prosecution," Assistant U.S. Attorney General Halsey Frank said Friday.
Brent Matthews, 33, said the frozen head slipped from his hands one night last summer and rolled through the open door of the Lisbon Street storefront that serves as a mosque for members of the Somali community. He was later arrested and charged with the misdemeanor of defacement and desecration of a place of worship.
The Maine Attorney General's Office was successful in getting the court to issue an injunction against Matthews under the Maine Civil Rights Act, ordering him to stay away from the mosque. If he were to violate that injunction, he could face up to a year in jail.
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation conferred with local police about the incident, investigating the possibility of charging Matthews with a federal hate crime.
But Matthews' attorney, James Howaniec said Thursday he was assured his client would not face federal charges. |
CLICK HERE To Show/Hide Discussion Thread - (10 Comments)
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Posted By:Steve at January 27, 2007 7:14 AM (Suggest Removal)
Why have these laws at all if people who break the law aren't going to be prosecuted? This case shows the govenments unwillingness to do what's right and just and strike a blow against hate. Bigotry is alive and well in this country, that's plain for all to see.
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Posted By:Jimmy at January 27, 2007 9:02 AM (Suggest Removal)
Sorry, as frustrated as I a with the current situation in the city, there was no excuse for his actions. Desecrating a place of worship is NOT a prank.
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Posted By:Concerned Citizen at January 27, 2007 9:16 AM (Suggest Removal)
CONGRADS to Brent!!! I'm glad for him that it didn't go any further then the misdemeanor. But David I have to disagree with you because I just got down reading the story on the Somalian that died in jail and even he disrespected his own religion by getting drunk. So that shows me whats good for the one is good for the other!!!
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Posted By:Pie at January 27, 2007 12:03 PM (Suggest Removal)
I am happy to see that this will not go any further,yet,I hope this makes us all realize that we need to be accountable for our actions.
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Posted By:Juststoppinby at January 27, 2007 12:29 PM (Suggest Removal)
In my opinion it does not matter weather you approve of the Somali population in Lewiston or not. What this man did was wrong. It was disrespectful and certainly not funny. I am bothered by the fact that so many seem to think this was funny and seem to think this man should not be held accountable for his actions. Somehow I think that if this had happened in a Christian or Catholic place of worship a lot of people would feel differently. I lived in Lewiston during the influx of Somalians. I know personally of some disrespect they have shown to citizens in Lewiston. I know that their population has taxed the city's budget in some ways. However a hate crime is never the answer. A frozen pigs head did not "accidentally" roll into this place of worship. In my opinion this man has found this funny and there are many that seem to cheer him on. Shame on those of you that found this incident funny. What are we teaching our children.
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Posted By:sososo at January 27, 2007 12:40 PM (Suggest Removal)
i agree just stopping bye that pigs head didnt just mistakenly roll in to the mousque he no doubt meant it and he should have found guilty to the fullest extent of the law if that was a somolian burning a cross outside the catholic church would not be charged with a hate crime this man should have he was warned by a police officer before he even thought of it and yes i thougt it was funny at first like 90 percent of lewiston but it wasnot funny at all its is still a place of worship
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Posted By:Unknown at January 27, 2007 2:35 PM (Suggest Removal)
I agree with Juststoppinby...it definetly was not funny. Thats the lamest excuse Ive ever heard " it accidently rolled out of my hands" please grow up.
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Posted By:sososo at January 27, 2007 3:10 PM (Suggest Removal)
te police officer warned before he even did it not too and he did it anyways they should throw away the key and give him sometime to think about ti it was totally wrong i honestly do not like many of the salamis
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Posted By:sososo at January 27, 2007 3:12 PM (Suggest Removal)
the kids family must know the right people kinda like the mayor did for kissing the girls that worked for him and said he kisses all kids on the lips yeahhh ok i quess its ok hmmmm yeah right its who you know and who you blow after all he evan admitted to kissing the girl and he said he kisses his daughter the same way too on his own statement and still found not guilty
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Posted By:mom at January 27, 2007 10:52 PM (Suggest Removal)
Well he is my brother in law and if you knew him,talked to him, he has allways been a little on the prankster side but he can make any body smile.He is and has allways been one of the nicest people to my child and I love him for that.He is someone who if you dont know him,and talk to him, you just wont know he really is a nice person but yes it was a bad idea.
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