Man gets probation in cross burning
Published 9:00 pm Friday, February 17, 2006
SEATTLE – An Edmonds man who admitted burning a cross in the yard of an Arab-American family in 2004 was sentenced by a federal court judge Friday to three years of probation, 90 days of electronic home detention and 200 hours of community service.
Collin Patrick Sargent, 19, pleaded guilty in July, admitting that he helped construct the 5-foot wooden cross, brought it to the victim’s residence in north Edmonds and ignited it after dousing with a flammable liquid.
Two others have admitted lying to a federal grand jury and will be sentenced later.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly told Sargent that “burning a cross is a universal symbol of hate and intimidation. Anybody of any race who had a cross burned on their property would feel threatened and fearful.”
The burning also would have an effect on other minorities who read or heard about it, Zilly said. The community service could serve as a way for Sargent to make up for anyone injured by the incident, the judge added.
According to court records, Sargent had a falling out with a young man who lived at the Edmonds home.
Sargent told the judge that what he did was stupid.
“I’m sorry I caused the family pain, and I wish that I could change that,” Sargent said.
Sargent could have been sentenced to prison, but the judge noted that he helped the government find others who were involved in the burning.
The juvenile who suggested the cross burning has been prosecuted in the state system. Two others are being prosecuted in federal court.
Jayson Russell, 19, of Snohomish and Joseph Lin, 18, of Lynnwood pleaded guilty to making false statements to the grand jury about the case.
According to the plea agreement, the men lied to the grand jury in October 2004, saying they said they did not participate in the cross burning. Both were there, court documents said.
The crime is punishable by five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Lin is scheduled to be sentenced April 7, and Russell June 2.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Seattle said prosecuting bias-motivated crimes remains a top priority of the Justice Department.
