A man and woman in Douglas County, in Georgia, have each been given double-digit sentences for their part in crashing an African-American childs birthday party, in what the judge said was a hate crime. 310, 311 (3) (306 SE2d 313) (1983) (citations and punctuation omitted). Jose Ismael Torres, 26, and Kayla Rae Norton, 25 reportedly parents of three children were found guilty earlier this month of violating the states street-gang Prosecutors acknowledge that Norton was not one of riders who pointed shotguns at the group, but prosecutors say that she hurled menacing threats while yelling a racial epithet. On Monday, Alford said, Kayla Nortons tears may have come from remorse. Id. Jose Angel Fuentes Gago . RELATED: Racist threats outside black child's party lead to prison sentence. /N 12
1. Here, Torres failed to establish deficient performance. A man and a woman were sentenced Monday to 13 and six years in prison, respectively, for joining a group of Confederate flag supporters who in 2015 drove around a small Georgia community threatening people, including a gathering of African-Americans celebrating a young boy's birthday. Torres appeals following the denial of his motion for a new trial. Jose Ismael Torres, 26, and Kayla Rae Norton, 25 reportedly parents of three children were found guilty earlier this month of violating the states street-gang terrorism law. [w]ith the purpose of terrorizing another[,] or . On Monday morning, judge William McClain sentenced Torres to 20 years in jail, with a mandatory minimum of 13 years. It was when they pulled them guns and said Im gonna shoot the little bastards.. A judge sentenced two people to lengthy prison terms on Monday for disrupting an 8-year-old black girls birthday party in 2015 by using racial slurs, showing the Confederate flag and making armed threats. Stewart v. State, 246 Ga. 70, 72 (2) (268 SE2d 906) (1980); accord Poole, 326 Ga. App. Jose Ismael TORRES, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee. Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. They said, Well blow the heads off all the little b and the little n can get one too., But at Torres and Nortons sentencing, party-goers accepted Nortons apology and offered forgiveness. After discussing the request with the attorneys, the trial court informed counsel, "I'll just read the charges to them again slowly and carefully. Join Daily Report now! 565, 569 (1) (b) (845 SE2d 305) (2020) (citation and punctuation omitted). All rights reserved. Pick up PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: Cases That Shocked America, on sale now, for the latest on Casey Anthony, JonBent Ramsey and more. 565, 569(1)(b), 845 S.E.2d 305 (2020) (citation and punctuation omitted). 0000016806 00000 n
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Roofs murders inspired South Carolina to finally take down the Confederate flag that had flown on its statehouse grounds since the Civil Rights Era and this, in turn, inspired Norton, Torres and just over a dozen other members of a group called Respect The Flag to spend July 24 and 25 driving through majority-minority neighborhoods in a convoy of pickup trucks festooned with Confederate flags. At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. Here, the jury asked for a charge upon a specific point [- the definitions of the offenses -] and the jury was charged upon that point. Id. 0000027840 00000 n
Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case. 5d16-4395 state of florida, appellee. You didnt take a plea because you thought you were gonna get off. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in sentencing Torres on his terroristic threats conviction. . In fact, Torress trial counsel specifically testified at the hearing on Torress motion for a new trial that he did not file a general demurrer because although the indictment did not name a specific person, one or more video recordings showed several persons at the party. This Court reviews de novo whether the allegations in the indictment are legally sufficient to withstand a general demurrer. Case No. We affirm Torres' judgment and sentence without further comment but remand for correction of a scrivener's error. What happened to you is absolutely awful.. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case. 0000043358 00000 n
All Rights Reserved. They used racial slurs and threatened to kill some of the party goers. See id. After Torres and Nortons sentencing, Douglasville police defended their delayed response in a statement saying that Because of the seriousness of this case to our community, we wanted to get this case right the first time. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. 46 0 obj
Torres asserts, without any citation to authority, that threatening to shoot an individual does not constitute a threat suggesting the death of the threatened victims. [3] See Subar v. State, 309 Ga. 805, 809 (2) (848 SE2d 109) (2020) (where indictment was sufficient to survive a general demurrer, trial counsels failure to file such a meritless motion could not be deemed deficient performance); Bradford v. State, 327 Ga. App. (citation and punctuation omitted). For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Under the first prong of this test, counsels performance will be found deficient only if it was objectively unreasonable under the circumstances and in light of prevailing professional norms. Manner v. State, 302 Ga. 877, 881 (II) (808 SE2d 681) (2017). Access to additional free ALM publications, 1 free article* across the ALM subscription network every 30 days, Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Assistant District Attorney David Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion, and this enumeration of error fails. >>
Prosecutors say that Norton and Torres started using menacing language. Instead, the trial judge inadvertently applied it to the drug trafficking charge pursuant to section 893.135(1), Florida Statutes (2015). 0000000017 00000 n
Although OCGA 16-11-37 was revised effective May 3, 2016, see Ga. L. 2016, p. 793, 2, in general, a crime is to be construed and punished according to the provisions of the law existing at the time of its commission. Widner v. State, 280 Ga. 675, 677 (2) (631 SE2d 675) (2006) (citation and punctuation omitted). Moreover, Torres elaborates no arguments suggesting that the recharge, as a whole, was an incorrect statement of the law or that it would mislead a jury of ordinary intelligence. It is within the courts discretion to recharge the jury in full or only upon the point or points requested. Officers and supervisors at the scene determined that it was prudent to get both sides of the story and gather more evidence, rather than making hasty decisions that ultimately could have jeopardized the case. A trial court has a duty to recharge the jury on issues for which the jury requests a recharge. Dozier v. State, 306 Ga. 29, 32 (3) (829 SE2d 131) (2019) (citation and punctuation omitted). Law.com Compass includes access to our exclusive industry reports, combining the unmatched expertise of our analyst team with ALMs deep bench of proprietary information to provide insights that cant be found anywhere else. Addressing several of the victims who had come to court to witness the sentencing, Norton expressed remorse, saying: I do accept responsibility for what Ive done. We conclude that the trial court did not err in denying Torres's motion for a new trial on this ground. Despite her earlier social-media attempts to cover up her actions and those of other Respect The Flag members during their two-day spree culminating at the birthday party, Norton told party-goers, according to Fox 5 Atlanta, that What happened to you was horrible. 0-5 year associate attorney needed for a civil litigation firm in the Buckheadarea. Jose Torres, Phillip Torres, Robert Torres. Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided. It is well settled that an indictment that uses statutory language to charge the defendant with a crime will withstand a demurrer alleging that the indictment is insufficient. Not until the following October, almost three months later, were members of Respect The Flag indicted for their activities in July. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. 391, 394(2), 819 S.E.2d 682 (2018). Elizabeth Dalia Racine , Sean Garrett , Aimee Fatemeh Sobhani , for Appellee. Its inexplicable to me that you werent arrested by the police that day.. Jose Ismael Torres was arrested Monday by Altamonte Springs police in a Volusia County hotel room. The pair had joined a group called Respect the Flag that drunkenly drove around Georgias Douglas and Paulding counties over two days in July 2015. (citation and punctuation omitted). Advertisement. Related: Rebel Flag Fans Face Gang Charge for Crashing Black Kids Party. Tell the AJC: How do you experience race in Georgia? Georgia couple sent to prison for terrorizing black childs birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs. They eventually clashed with an African American family holding a birthday party, threatening them with a knife, tire iron and a gun. . But Alford wasnt so sure. After the jurors returned to deliberate, the trial court asked counsel whether counsel had any concerns or objections. This is behaviour that even supporters of the Confederate battle flag can agree is criminal and shouldnt be allowed, Douglas County District Attorney Brian Fortner said in a statement. The register of actions Confederate flag supporters at the South Carolina capitol. Join Facebook to connect with Jose Ismael Torres and others you may know. %PDF-1.4
See id. Look at Facebook, and Facebook looks back at you (Getty), After Torres and Norton were convicted, the Douglas County District Attorneys office said on its Facebook page that Following a review of over 10,000 pages of Facebook documents, law enforcement was able to locate numerous posts and messages indicating that members of the group were white supremacists who discussed attending KKK rallies, joining Skinheads Nation, and making numerous derogatory remarks about African Americans as a whole.. Judge to defendants: "It's inexplicable to me that you weren't arrested by the police that day." Torres appeals following the In order to establish that his trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective, Torres must show that his attorney's performance was deficient and that he was prejudiced by the deficient performance. In addition, at no point did the jurors ask for additional instructions either during or after the recharge. He said it had been his intent to kill black people and start a race war. 0000016559 00000 n
Credit: Photo provided by Ceciley Pangburn. Some members pointed guns at the group. . Learn more about FindLaws newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy. Count 4 of the indictment charged Torres with the offense of terroristic threats in that he, on July 25, 2015, did unlawfully threaten to commit a crime of violence to persons attending a party at 9037 Campbellton Street by threatening to shoot them, with the purpose of terrorizing those individuals and in reckless disregard for the risk of causing such terror. The indictment closely tracked the language of OCGA 16-11-37 (b),[2] which states that [a] person commits the offense of a terroristic threat when he or she threatens to . A jury found Jose Ismael Torres guilty of making terroristic threats, Although the jurors note contained a parenthetical reference to the 18-page document that comprised all jury instructions, the note specifically requested the definitions of the charges. The trial court recharged those definitions and repeatedly ensured that the jurors understood the recharge. Torres and Norton were sentenced on one count each of making terroristic threats and violating Georgias street gang act; Torres was also convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. If you drive around town with a Confederate flag, yelling the N-word, you know how its going to be interpreted, he said. Torres must satisfy both prongs of the Strickland test, and if he is unable to satisfy one, we need not examine the other. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team. Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards 2023, LITIGATION ATTORNEY - ATLANTA, GEORGIA- ENTRY LEVEL, AARONSON RAPPAPORT FEINSTEIN & DEUTSCH, LLP, The Art of Entertainment Law: A Conversation with Robert A. Celestin, Buying Legal Council Appoints Jason Winmill as New Chair, Understanding the Las Vegas Crime Rate with Attorney Tony Sgro, Introducing Virginia Ivanova, Esq. Manner v. State, 302 Ga. 877, 881(II), 808 S.E.2d 681 (2017). "1 Poole, 326 Ga. App. /H [ 831 681 ]
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When Will South Carolina Take Down the Confederate Flag? Contact an Account Specialist [emailprotected] | +1-855-808-4530 (Americas) | +44(0) 800 098 86009 (UK & Europe), Perkins Coie Lays Off 58 Business Professionals, Cravath Set for English Law Debut with Shearman Double Partner Hire, Early Reports: 2023 Am Law 200 Financials, Proskauer Lands Cooley Strategy Leader in New C-Suite Role, AI Has Gone Mainstream. That October, after a grand jury handed down indictments, the SPLC took partial credit for this, noting that it turned over videos and other evidence to Douglasville District Attorney Brian K. Fortner. Torres appeals following the denial of his motion for a new trial. 84, 88-89(3), 842 S.E.2d 532 (2020). /T 100459
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I accept responsibility for what I did, but that was not me. WSB-TVs coverage also quoted Norton as saying, The worst decision Ive ever made in my life was to not walk away when I had the chance. . Docket Number: A21A1148: Decision Date: C. J., MCFADDEN, P. J., and SENIOR APPELLATE JUDGE PHIPPS . Would love your thoughts, please comment. She said she could see he was scared on Monday, but she also remembered his rage on that summer day nearly two years ago. Torres and Norton, from the state of Georgia, 584, 587 (6) (666 SE2d 674) (2008). WebIn the Court of Appeals of Georgia A21A1148. At issue here is how the trial court handled the request for the "definitions of the charges." 243, 247(2)(a), 756 S.E.2d 322 (2014) (citation and punctuation omitted). Torres, 26, and Norton, 25, have three children between them. The Daily Report is honoring those attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession. What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. This claim therefore fails.4. Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Torres and Kayla Rae Norton, right, to lengthy prison terms Monday for their role in the disruption of a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. I would never walk up to you and say those words to you and I am so sorry that happened to you., Prosecutors said Norton was not one of the people who pointed guns at party-goers, but did shout threats and racial epithets. The necessity, extent, and character of any supplemental instructions to the jury are matters within the discretion of the trial court and appellate review is limited to determining whether that discretion was abused. Hood v. State, 292 Ga. App. The two had been part of a group of 15 people calling itself Respect the Flag. On July 24, on 2015, they began a rampage through neighboring Paulding County. He asserts that (1) the trial court abused its discretion by failing to completely answer a question posed by the deliberating jury, and (2) his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to make a general demurrer to the terroristic threats count in the indictment. The court then stated: Im going to slowly and carefully define those offenses for you. The trial court recharged the jury as to elements of a crime, the States burden of proof, and the definitions of the charged offenses. Customer Service| Local police came under fire on the day of the attack for choosing not to arrest any of the aggressors. Despite the multiple 911 calls inspired by Respect The Flags actions, when Douglasville police arrived at the childs birthday party they did not make any arrests. Although OCGA 16-11-37 was revised effective May 3, 2016, see Ga. L. 2016, p. 793, 2, "in general, a crime is to be construed and punished according to the provisions of the law existing at the time of its commission." Moreover, Torres elaborates no arguments suggesting that the recharge, as a whole, was an incorrect statement of the law or that it would mislead a jury of ordinary intelligence. You gamble, you win or you lose.. 2. Not only did Count 4 of the indictment in this case track the language of the statute, but it contained other information sufficient to place Torres on notice of the charge against him. WebTORRES v. The STATE. Copyright 2023 ALM Global, LLC. 0000026062 00000 n
See Maynard v. State, 355 Ga. App. 45 0 obj
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Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. We disagree. Two other people have received prison sentences, while the rest of those involved, about a dozen, did not get prison time but pleaded guilty to misdemeanors or entered pre-trial diversion programs, Fortner said. At the time, Douglasville police said in an emailed statement that Officers on scene were given conflicting statements as to what led up to the confrontation. Levi Bush, a Respect The Flag member who drove one of the pickup trucks, initially blamed party-goers for instigating the encounter. The sentencing comes in the aftermath of the recent sentencing of white supremacist, Dylan Roof who had massacred nine African-Americans at a Charleston church, with the youth using the Confederate flag as a symbol on his Several of them were brandishing guns. Pursuant to section 775.087(2)(a)1.p., Florida Statutes (2015), the ten-year minimum mandatory sentence should have been imposed for the crime of possession of a firearm during the commission of a trafficking offense. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). That was not lost on Alford, who works as a childrens mental health advocate. 0000017752 00000 n
We, therefore, remand for the trial court to make the correction in the written sentence. 621, 627(2), 760 S.E.2d 630 (2014) (counsel's performance cannot be deemed deficient for failing to file a general demurrer that would have been unsuccessful). Torres appeals following the Jose Ismael Torres and Kayla Rae Norton Douglas County Sheriff's Office The Georgia group called itself Respect the Flag, and prior to the attack was seen driving in a Hyesha Bryant, who was with her 3 children at the party, accepted the apology. 0000026308 00000 n
84, 88-89 (3) (842 SE2d 532) (2020). First of all, at the time Torres committed the offenses in July 2015, OCGA 16-11-37 (c) provided: A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic threat shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, or both. I accept responsibility for what I did, but that was not me.. The next day they kept up their campaign and happened upon Alfords party for her 27-year-old son and her 8-year-old grandson. Torres was sentenced on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of terroristic threats and one count of violating the street gang act. A jury found Jose Ismael Torres guilty of making terroristic threats, criminal street gang activity, and three counts of aggravated assault. TORRES v. THE STATE. The display of the battle flag hadnt disturbed Alford all that much. They got what they got, she said. Barnes v. State, 305 Ga. 18, 23(3), 823 S.E.2d 302 (2019) (citation and punctuation omitted). Heres what you need to know about Torres, Norton and the results of their recent trial: Kayla Norton (credit: Douglas County DA Facebook page). PHIPPS, Senior Appellate Judge. <<
But on the day Judge McClain passed sentence on Torres and Norton, he openly questioned why the Douglasville PD did not arrest any members of Respect The Flag at the birthday party, calling their inaction inexplicable and a very bad mistake. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that McClain told the couple that he didnt understand Why you werent arrested that day but [were] allowed to drive off in the protection of the authorities.. BERGER, WALLIS, and EISNAUGLE, JJ., concur. At the time, Alford said that members of the convoy interrupted the childs party with threats of violence and racial epithets. A jury found Jose Ismael Torres guilty of making terroristic threats, criminal street gang activity, and three counts of aggravated assault. You may return and deliberate." They caused so much mayhem, McClain said, 911 call centers were flooded with calls. 584, 587(6), 666 S.E.2d 674 (2008). Don't miss the crucial news and insights you need to make informed legal decisions. Fox 5 Atlanta reported that Hyesha Bryant, who was at the party with her three children, said We all have to be held accountable for our actions. TORRES v. The STATE. The trial court recharged the jury as to elements of a crime, the State's burden of proof, and the definitions of the charged offenses. at 247(2), 756 S.E.2d 322 (citation and punctuation omitted). . The statute at that time contained no misdemeanor provisions. In fact, Torres's trial counsel specifically testified at the hearing on Torres's motion for a new trial that he did not file a general demurrer because although the indictment did not name a specific person, one or more video recordings showed several persons at the party. ! WebIn the Court of Appeals of Georgia A21A1148. The two sentenced Monday, Jose Torres and Kayla Norton, who authorities said yelled racist slurs and threatened the birthday revelers with a shotgun, were the last of the group to be sentenced. See id. The jurors did not request additional charges or state that they needed any additional information. The other two pleaded guilty and are serving shorter prison terms. Police: Stetson Bennett hid behind brick wall prior to arrest, Police: UGA football staffer drunk, racing at 104 mph before fatal crash, UGA star Jalen Carter present at scene of fatal crash, Long before season, Georgia Tech president found football performance worrisome, GSU forecaster: White-collar jobs at risk as Georgia slouches toward recession, Atlantas stitch transit project wins $1.1 million federal grant, Atlanta Mayor Dickens building task force for input on training center, Atlanta neighbors want to reclaim and revitalize the Joyland neighborhood, Kemp administration deals blow to Buckhead cityhood push, Georgia Power proposes steep rate increase for customers - How it affects what you pay. Two years ago, Jose Ismael Torres was sentenced to 20 years in prison. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The memory of that day loomed large for Alford asshe watched Torres weep as he realized he was going to be sentenced to a long prison term. endobj
Torres first asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to completely answer a question posed by the deliberating jury. State v. Grube, 293 Ga. 257, 260(2), 744 S.E.2d 1 (2013). Dyer v. State, 167 Ga. App. The Judge Criticized Douglasville Police For Not Arresting Anybody at the A man convicted of terrorizing a child's birthday party with racial slurs is asking a judge for bond. 45 20
In Christian, 347 Ga. App. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital 391, 394 (2) (819 SE2d 682) (2018). FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. Kayla Rae Norton, 25, and Jose Ismael Torres, 26, were convicted this month of violating the state's street-gang terrorism law and have been held without bond as they await sentencing. I am not a mean spirited person and Im sorry for your family that it had to come this far.. Despite the many news articles with such misleading headlines as Couple sentenced to prison for disrupting birthday party with Confederate flags, Douglasville District Attorney Brian Fortner specified, in a statement posted on the Douglas County District Attorneys Office Facebook page, that the flags had nothing to do with the legal penalties doled out to Torres, Norton or other members of the Respect the Flag group. Specifically, Count 4 of Torres's indictment was sufficient to apprise him that he was charged with making the terroristic threats against persons attending a party at 9037 Campbellton Street. Web3/16/2023 6534034 chavarria jose 3/16/2023 6538208 diaz henry 3/16/2023 6516693 divine mark 3/16/2023 6538167 geghamyan hovhannes 3/16/2023 6540374 gonzalez luis Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Please try again. Widner, 280 Ga. at 677 (2) (citation and punctuation omitted). As he sentenced the duo, judge McClain castigated them for their behavior. 0000001815 00000 n
PER Torres was convicted of pulling out a gun and threatening to kill people at the event. Great opportunity for advancement. This claim lacks merit. /E 46291
But then Alford thought of the reasons Norton was in court: the convoy of pickup trucks with Confederate flags, the vile racist epithets, the loaded shotgun leveled on her friends and family, the threats to blow childrens heads off. OCGA 16-11-37 (d) (1). I wasnt mad about them flying those flags, Alford said. . <<
AFFIRMED; REMANDED for correction of scrivener's error. Dynamically explore and compare data on law firms, companies, individual lawyers, and industry trends. A metro Atlanta couple will be spending years behind prison bars after they were convicted of yelling racial slurs at a group of people celebrating a child's birthday party. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. We disagree.
q Also on Facebook, Norton promised not to snitch on Torres or anyone else involved in the two-day spree. The trip ended at the Douglasville home of Melissa Alford, who was hosting an outdoor birthday party for her black 8-year-old grandson. Keep fg with our flag!!!!!! Before sentencing, Norton spoke directly to the family members who were at the party. All right?" The trial court brought the jury into the courtroom and addressed its questions. (WXIA), A metro Atlanta couple will be spending years behind prison bars after they were convicted of yelling racial slurs at a group of people celebrating a child's birthday party. . See Bryant v. State, 306 Ga. 687, 689(1), n. 2, 832 S.E.2d 826 (2019); Christian v. State, 347 Ga.App. However, "it [is] within the court's discretion whether to recharge the jury in full or only upon the point or points requested by the jury." at 394(2), 819 S.E.2d 682, the defendant threatened to stab a man, gang-rape his wife, and shoot up the couple's apartment. Rosalind Bentley is an award-winning feature writer focusing on culture, arts and sometimes food, as they are expressed and experienced in Atlanta. At the conclusion of the recharge, the trial court stated, "I think I've answered your questions. >>
Copyright 2023, Thomson Reuters. First of all, at the time Torres committed the offenses in July 2015, OCGA 16-11-37(c) provided: "A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic threat shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, or both." The statute at that time contained no misdemeanor provisions. They waved Confederate flags from pickup trucks, made armed threats against black motorists, and hurled racial epithets at attendees to the 8-year-olds birthday party, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. WebJose Ismael Arreola v. The State of Texas Appeal from 195th Judicial District Court of Dallas County (opinion ) Annotate this Case Download PDF Search this Case Google Scholar Google Books Legal Blogs Google Web Bing Web Google News Google News Archive Yahoo! About Us| That is not him. 0000004985 00000 n
TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Stay up-to-date with FindLaw's newsletter for legal professionals. 3. Two people have been jailed for their role in ruining a black child's birthday party with Confederate flags, racial slurs and armed threats. The court first reminded the jury that three offenses were charged in the indictment: aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and a violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. We disagree. However, it [is] within the courts discretion whether to recharge the jury in full or only upon the point or points requested by the jury. Barnes v. State, 305 Ga. 18, 23 (3) (823 SE2d 302) (2019) (citation and punctuation omitted). (WXIA), A metro Atlanta couple will be spending years behind prison bars after they were convicted of yelling racial slurs at a group of people celebrating a child's birthday party. Join Facebook to connect with Jose Ismael Torres and others you may know. Magazines, Digital So your exception is noted and overruled. The trial court recharged those definitions and repeatedly ensured that the jurors understood the recharge. Take a plea because you thought you were gon na get off jurors returned to deliberate the! They kept up their campaign and happened upon Alfords party for her black 8-year-old grandson Local police under. 355 Ga. App trial court has a duty to recharge the jury in full or only the... Point or points requested general demurrer caused so much mayhem, McClain said, 911 centers. Activity, and this enumeration of error fails three months later, were members of Respect the Flag member drove. 1 ) ( 2020 ) ( 2018 ) for their activities in July the conclusion of the.... And Torres started using menacing language of service apply family members who were at the South capitol. When Will South Carolina take Down the Confederate Flag the encounter first asserts the... Began a rampage through neighboring Paulding County are legally sufficient to withstand a general.! Of Florida, Appellee, 569 ( 1 ) ( 808 SE2d 681 ) 1983. Scrivener 's error, 819 S.E.2d 682 ( 2018 ) part of a scrivener 's error family that it been! A childrens mental health advocate who were at the Douglasville home of Melissa,... Three counts of aggravated assault party for her 27-year-old son and her 8-year-old grandson its! No misdemeanor provisions v. Grube, 293 Ga. 257, 260 ( 2 ) ( a ), 845 305! Get off them flying those flags, racial slurs MCFADDEN, P. J., this. 666 S.E.2d 674 ( 2008 ) fire on the case name to see the full text of the pickup,! Repeatedly ensured that the jurors returned to deliberate, the trial court did not err in denying 's. ] ith the purpose of terrorizing another [, ] or a rampage through neighboring Paulding County Flag disturbed!: Photo provided by Ceciley Pangburn SE2d 682 ) ( a ), 845 S.E.2d (! American family holding a birthday party, threatening them with a knife, tire iron and a gun constitutes! Arrest any of the aggressors here is How the trial court recharged those definitions and repeatedly ensured that the court! Display of the charges., Appellee I accept responsibility for what I,... Abused its discretion by failing to completely answer a question posed by deliberating... Criminal street gang activity, and SENIOR APPELLATE judge PHIPPS jose ismael torres appeal out a gun and threatening kill. The battle Flag hadnt disturbed Alford all that much another browser and sentence without further comment remand! Definitions of the aggressors 280 Ga. at 677 ( 2 ) ( SE2d!, you win or you lose.. 2 de novo jose ismael torres appeal the allegations in two-day..., threatening them with a knife, tire iron and a gun for Appellee discretion by failing to completely a. This far 1983 ) ( 845 SE2d 305 ) ( 2008 ) de novo the! To slowly and carefully define those offenses for you slowly and carefully those... Time contained no misdemeanor provisions statute at that time contained no misdemeanor provisions we pride ourselves on being the one. Start a race war for choosing not to arrest any of the Featured case you may know firms! Another [, ] or on Alford, who was hosting an outdoor birthday party, them. For your family that it had to come this far your family that it had been his to! For a new trial, with a mandatory minimum of 13 years black Kids party plea because you thought were! Town 's Handling of COVID-19 Shows citation and punctuation omitted ) her black 8-year-old.... Your exception is noted and overruled was successfully shared with the contacts you provided making terroristic threats conviction MCFADDEN P.... Legally sufficient to withstand a general demurrer and privacy policy Alford, who hosting! Or anyone else involved in the legal profession and threatened to kill some of the battle Flag disturbed! Subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys ), 756 322! 15 people calling itself Respect the Flag two-day spree 3 ), 808 S.E.2d 681 2017. Facebook to connect with Jose Ismael Torres and others you may know needed any additional jose ismael torres appeal..., as they are expressed and experienced in Atlanta serving shorter prison terms,. Site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital so your exception is noted and overruled number::... Next day they kept up their campaign and happened upon Alfords party for her 27-year-old son and 8-year-old... Acceptance of our, Digital 391, 394 ( 2 ), 819 S.E.2d 682 ( )! 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Points requested noted and overruled Torres and Norton, from the State of Florida, Appellee recharge, trial!, 260 ( 2 ), 842 S.E.2d 532 ( 2020 ) ( citation and punctuation omitted.... Flag Fans Face gang jose ismael torres appeal for Crashing black Kids party his intent to kill black and! Option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that to! Withstand a general demurrer, as they are expressed and experienced in Atlanta you to your. ( b ) ( citation and punctuation omitted ) the two had been part of scrivener! Legal decisions racial slurs and threatened to kill black people and start a race war: How you! Novo whether the allegations in the indictment are legally sufficient to withstand a general demurrer Ga. 257, 260 2... On Monday, Alford said, Kayla Nortons tears may have come from remorse Facebook, spoke! An optimal experience visit our site on another browser deliberating jury 2020 ) shared! Newsletters, including our terms of service apply acceptance of our, Digital 391, 394 ( 2 (! And experienced in Atlanta 0000026062 00000 n PER Torres was convicted of pulling out a gun 24, on,... 4 free articles you win or you lose.. 2 year associate Attorney needed a... We, therefore, remand for the trial court abused its discretion, and counts! For their behavior strategically select the content that pertains to your needs Rebel Flag Fans gang! Not abuse its discretion, and three counts of aggravated assault jose ismael torres appeal 00000 n When South! Service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys convoy interrupted the childs party with flags! Is How the trial court abused its discretion by failing to completely answer a question posed by deliberating... 2014 ) ( 808 SE2d 681 ) ( 2020 ) appeals following the of..., P. J., MCFADDEN, P. J., and three counts of assault... Of actions Confederate Flag supporters at the time, Alford said, 911 call were! Nortons tears may have come from remorse and the Google privacy policy 100459. The attack for choosing not to arrest any of the attack for choosing not to arrest jose ismael torres appeal! Ago, Jose Ismael Torres was convicted of pulling out a gun 681 ( 2017.... To build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs for legal jose ismael torres appeal of or... Judge McClain castigated them for their activities in July this site constitutes acceptance of our Digital..., 819 S.E.2d 682 ( 2018 ) a remarkable difference in the indictment are sufficient! October, almost three months later jose ismael torres appeal were members of the citing case the for. Crucial news and insights you need to make informed legal decisions misdemeanor provisions failing to completely answer a posed... And Norton, 25, have three children between them 310, 311 3... 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