Associated Press
SEATTLE — A Snohomish man charged in an attack on a north Seattle mosque two days after Sept. 11 pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday, prosecutors said.
In papers filed in U.S. District Court, Patrick Michael Cunningham, 53, admitted to one count of attempted obstruction of the free exercise of religion and one count of using a firearm while committing a crime. He also agreed to apologize to the worshippers at the Islamic Idriss Mosque.
"Acts of violence and vigilantism targeted at individuals because of their race, religion or national origin will not be permitted in the United States," Ralph Boyd Jr., the assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in a statement from Washington, D.C. "They will be aggressively investigated, swiftly prosecuted and firmly punished."
A grand jury initially indicted Cunningham on four counts in the attack: obstructing the free exercise of religion, attempting to deface religious property, attempted malicious damage and the use of a firearm in a crime of violence.
He was caught by worshippers pouring gasoline on cars in the mosque’s parking lot. As he fled the scene, he fired shots toward two worshippers who were chasing him, then jumped into his car and crashed it into a utility pole.
Under the plea agreement, he faces a maximum 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempting to restrict religious exercise and at least five years more for using the gun while committing the crime.
He could be sentenced to life in prison for the gun charge, as well as ordered to pay an additional $250,000.
As part of the plea, Cunningham must write an apology to the mosque and give an oral apology when he is sentenced. His sentencing date was not immediately available.
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