White supremacist sentenced in NY over illegal possession of weapons

A federal choose Monday sentenced an area white supremacist to eight years for unlawful firearms possession, telling the person that he seemingly obtained the weapons “as a part of a racist agenda.”

The sentence for Stephen Pattison, a convicted felon who couldn’t have weapons, was lower than the utmost sentence of 10 years sought by prosecutors however considerably over the sentence advisable by federal tips.

The advisable sentence vary, which judges would not have to comply with in the event that they discover distinctive causes not to take action, was 46 to 57 months.

Within the aftermath of racist and different violence, folks usually ask, “Had been there warning indicators, had been there pink flags?,” U.S. District Decide David Larimer mentioned Monday in sentencing Pattison. There are a lot of “pink flags” that would predict future violence from Pattison, Larimer mentioned.

Pattison, 33, had quite a few racist social media postings, many by which he spoke of violence in opposition to Black folks. Whereas Pattison claimed he took unlawful possession of a shotgun and rifle for his household to have — he was returning to jail for violating parole — prosecutors contended that it was evident from his social media that he was inclined to make use of the weapons for racist-fueled violence.

Larimer concurred.

“Your views about white supremacy, Nazi views, racist language — they … consider, too, when one considers the aim for possessing the weapons,” Larimer mentioned.