47 year old Patricia Stockwell was convicted of stalking a woman because she is Muslim. The former resident of Rochester, Minnesota was fined $3000 and ordered to complete 200 hours community service:
"A former Rochester woman convicted of stalking a woman because she is Muslim has been fined $3,000 and ordered to do 200 hours of community work service.
Patricia Stockwell, 47, was put on probation for two years by Judge Kevin Lund, who stayed execution of a one-year jail sentence on condition she comply with all of the terms, including writing a letter of apology to the victim.
Stockwell, who lives in Grand Forks, N.D., was convicted by an Olmsted County jury in June of stalking Madina Hassan in Rochester on Sept. 12, 2006, a felony. Jurors found that the stalking was done because of the victim's religion.....
...Stockwell's attorney, Frederick Goetz of Minneapolis, said he will appeal the ruling and asked the judge to stay execution of the sentencing order until the appeal is heard. The judge denied that request, meaning Stockwell must begin paying the fine in $300 monthly installments and must begin doing the community work service, at the rate of 10 hours per month, in November.
In denying the motion for a new trial, Lund said the jury did a "remarkable job" in going through all of the evidence and applying it to the case.
"It is clear they paid careful attention to all the witnesses and made distinctions in coming to their verdict," Lund said.
Goetz also moved for a departure from sentencing guidelines so Stockwell wouldn't have a felony conviction on her record, and he asked that she not have to serve jail time. Prosecutor Ross Leuning opposed that motion, saying Stockwell has shown no remorse or any concern for the rights of the victim.
"Her role was not a passive role,'' Leuning told the judge, asking him to consider the victim and how threatened and oppressed she felt.
"People should not have to be afraid to worship their God,'' Leuning said.
Stockwell denied following the victim in her car and said she doesn't understand why the victim was frightened -- that she never intended to frighten her.
She painted herself as the victim, saying the state is "doing a hate crime against me,'' in prosecuting her." (Source:
Post-Bulletin)
I agree with Patricia Stockwell she is most certainly a victim and deserves not to have the state "do" a hate crime on her.
Mental Vomits
(4 unread)
Notes From Kashmir (6 unread)
The Times Of Kashmir (47 unread)
Islam & The West - Opinions Of A Kashmiri Nomad (201 unread)
E=mc^2 (80 unread)
Kashmiri Bloggers (9 unread)
(3 unread)
16:27
