Man convicted of planning mosque attack could get less time
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee man convicted of threatening to burn down a mosque in New York could serve less time in prison after a federal judge threw out two of his guilty verdicts.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier dismissed two counts of threats in interstate commerce against 65-year-old Robert Doggart on Friday. Doggart was convicted of recruiting about 10 people to attack a Muslim community called Islamberg. But Collier wrote Doggart did not make "true threats" because he did not personally intimidate the community's residents.
The newspaper reported Doggart now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors said earlier this year Doggart had faced up to 40 years in prison.
Prosecutors declined to comment, but they could appeal Collier's decision.
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Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com