Florida man sentenced to 25 years for attempt to blow up synagogue

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#U.S. NOVEMBER 28, 2017 / 11:32 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

(Reuters) - A Florida man was sentenced by a U.S. judge on Tuesday to 25 years in prison for trying to blow up a synagogue in the state during a Jewish holiday last year, court officials said.

James Medina, 41, will first be treated at a U.S. prison medical facility for a brain cyst and mental illness before being moved into the general prison population, U.S. District Judge Robert Scola in Miami ruled.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation began watching Medina, who had converted to Islam, after he began expressing anti-Semitic views and a wish to attack a synagogue. They launched an investigation in late March 2016, court documents showed

Medina, who faced up to life in prison, had pleaded guilty in August 2017 to charges of an attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and an attempted religious hate crime, court documents showed.

-snip-


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-justice-florida/florida-man-sentenced-to-25-years-for-attempt-to-blow-up-synagogue-idUSKBN1DS26K

[Sneederbunk]

1. A Florida man.

[Stryst]

2. "will first be treated at a U.S. prison medical facility for a brain cyst and mental illness"

... I certainly think that this guy needs to be away from society, but this seems a clear case of diminished capacity. Why is he not going to a psychiatric hospital?

Oh yeah, our "justice" system is based on revenge and sending messages to "uppity" social groups.

Also, why was he handed a fake bomb by the FBI and encouraged to set it, instead of being detained as soon as they realized that he was a serious threat? What if he had a second bomb, or a gun to finish the job? I guess that wouldn't have given the FBI the same quality of bust.

I'm not trying to defend this guy, or his actions, but I think it points to the system being seriously fu*ked.

[marble falls]

3. I read somewhere that the first psychiatric treatment 80% of mentally ill people get is in a jail ..

There are some county jails where the Sheriffs have set up facikities specifically for mentally ill prisoners to get them treatment and out of general population in county lock-ups where they are abused and taken advantage of by criminal inmates.

Its a disgrace that began during Ronnie Reagan's administration of turning non criminal mentally ill into the streets as cost cutting and savings to the tax payers.

It is a disgrace and a national shame.

[Stryst]

4. How else are we supposed to pay for-profit prison owners enough for that shiny new yacht?

Contracts to fill prisons are a primary reason for this evil.

[EarthFirst]

5. Damn. Florida Man has been busy. nt

[rickford66]

6. It'll be interesting to see if he has a brother.