Hate Note Author and Noose Hanger Busted

[William Haskins]

just out of morbid curiosity... for those of you who support hate crime legislation, should this man be prosecuted under such statutes?

A firefighter who reported finding a knotted rope and a threatening note with a drawing of a noose in an East Baltimore station house last month had placed the items there himself, city officials said yesterday.

The man was suspended last week for performance-related issues and will likely face additional punishment, fire officials said. Sterling Clifford, a spokesman for the Police Department and for Mayor Sheila Dixon, said the man admitted to the hoax and will not face criminal charges.

Officials identified the firefighter who they say acknowledged writing the note as Donald Maynard, a firefighter-paramedic apprentice who is black. Maynard could not be reached for comment


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-te.ci.probe02dec02,0,5563956.story?coll=bal_tab01_ layout

[astonwest]

Of course he should...to not prosecute him would be discriminatory.

[benbradley]

The Hate Crime laws I recall are ones that double the penalty if a crime is done to another person because of the other person's race, religion, etc. In this case, where there's no criminal charge made, that doesn't apply.

Can you tell me what other hate crime legislation might apply in this case?

IMHO, he SHOULD be prosecuted if it's determined he may have committed a crime, and if not, he surely should receive some disciplinary action from his employer for causing some sort of 'abusive atmosphere'. (there's gotta be a better word than abusive, I just can't think of it right now)

[William Haskins]

In this case, where there's no criminal charge made, that doesn't apply.

it was a hypothetical.

[benbradley]

Of course he should...to not prosecute him would be discriminatory.

But what would he be charged with? Creating a hostile work environment (the words I was thinking of) for blacks? Is there a specific law against this? And presuming so, what if he's the only black working there, could he still be prosecuted?

[William Haskins]

one could argue that it was a racist act against white co-workers, who would likely be viewed with suspicion as potential perpetrators.

[poetinahat]

Based on my extensive crime-show watching, this sounds like a sort of Munchhausen's syndrome by proxy.

According to television, they set up a scenario where they can save someone's life, so they can gain approval or look like a hero. Trouble is that they themselves have put the person into danger to start with.

Or maybe it's just that the guy's a special class of jerk. I'm not sure whether he reported it himself should make any difference. ETA: If it's a hoax intended to cast suspicion on others, I wonder whether it's any less despicable.


But Marvin L. "Doc" Cheatham, president of the NAACP's Baltimore chapter, said the fact that such an incident could occur shows that pervasive racial problems persist in the department.

"It really saddens us to hear that evidently things have reached a stage that even an African-American does an injustice to himself and his own people as a result of a negative culture in that department," Cheatham said when asked to respond to the unions.


Er, nice. So, it's still someone else's fault.

[astonwest]

But what would he be charged with?Around here, falsely reporting a crime is a crime in itself...

[rugcat]

The whole rationale behind hate crime legislation, as I understand it, is that such crimes are particularly egregious because they not only affect the victim, but also members of the victim's class, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

You could argue, I suppose, that no matter what the motivation, that's exactly what the result of his actions were. But that's a stretch -- a misdemeanor for filing a false police report and loss of his job wouldl be more than enough punishment.

[Bartholomew]

He should be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

[Voyager]

Okay, in all honesty, before I even got to the part of the article that said he was black I thought, this man doesn't need to be in jail, he needs therapy.

[robeiae]

Don't we all...

[whistlelock]

I am perfectly sane, the rest of you crazy bastards however...

[Joe270]

It is fruitcake season, after all.

[Tiger]

Based on my extensive crime-show watching, this sounds like a sort of Munchhausen's syndrome by proxy.

I don't know about the proxy part... It sounds like the thing itself to me. The guy took on a role of victim so as to empower himself with righteous indignation.

I would vote for Mr. Haskins' suggestion that this was an overtly hostile act against (presumably white) coworkers based on their race.

[benbradley]

Around here, falsely reporting a crime is a crime in itself...
Sure, well I'm trying to figure out exactly what the original crime was that he falsely reported. Rereading the OP, I imagine leaving a threatening note (AND falsely claiming he FOUND it rather than wrote it, thus misleading the police) might be a crime.
He should be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I'm not arguing against that, I'm just trying to figure out EXACTLY what this guy would be charged with.

I suppose "only his prosecutor knows for sure."

[paprikapink]

This guy did a bad, bad thing. Putting his co-workers in the position of being suspects and suspecting each other...that's bad. What's bad, bad though, is what he's done to undermine legitimate cases of racial hostility or threats. Just like every time a woman makes a false rape accusation, she makes it harder for real rape victims to be taken seriously, this guy's actions cast a shadow of doubt over the cases of future victims of racially motivated violence or threats.

[astonwest]

Rereading the OP, I imagine leaving a threatening note (AND falsely claiming he FOUND it rather than wrote it, thus misleading the police) might be a crime.As a purely hypothetical, had the college (Columbia University? I forget) where a noose was found actually discovered the perpetrator, I can almost guarantee charges would have been filed...so, yes, I'd say that the actions of this particular gentlemen could be considered a crime.