The Cracker Barrel racist had his one felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

The judge said it didn't qualify for felony cruelty-to-children when a child witnesses a person being beat in their presence.
http://www.news-daily.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=28698

This is a statement from the Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson today after she said she plans to press further charges against Troy D. West in regards to the Tashawnea Hill beating.

"I don’t normally get personally involved in cases, but I am going to personally prosecute Mr. West on behalf of that victim and the citizens of this county."

http://blog.taragana.com/n/federal-authorities-investigating-attack-on-black-ga-army-reservist-as-possible-hate-crime-170231/

I'm glad to see her say that. This case is a powder keg that needs to be handled with extreme care.

[kjackson227]

1. And I wish there was something set up where I could donate some funds to help her out.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. I seldom say this, but ...

... throw the book at the bastard.

What kind of man savagely beats a woman, in front of her young child, and in public, screaming racist slurs?

--d!

[Tace]

3. One Who Deserves A Felony Assault Conviction...

and 10 years in state prison. That's what kind of asshole. Those prosecutors and that judge are smelling pretty funky, too.

[merh]

21. Not the prosecutor - just the judge.

The prosecutor (the one who is assigned to handle misdemeanor cases) asked the DA to step in, that the assault deserved full review. The DA said she would review the video and the police reports to determine if there is a felony charge she can present to the grand jury for indictment.

It is the judge that stinks in this case.

[monmouth]

4. And...she repeatedly told him she was in the Army...That to me, is

the most disgusting part of this story. I don't know if she was/is in Iraq but I wonder if he ever served...

[mimitabby]

6. honestly

once someone is in a blind rage, talking does not do any good.

Has anyone been able to find out if he has any priors?

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. I would respectfully disagree, judge.

It didn't qualify for felony cruelty-to-children when a child witnesses a person being beat - but it should qualify when a child witnesses her MOTHER being beat. The mother is the essence of safety and security for a young child - the trauma of seeing that happen could mar the child for life, because it was not just a person being beaten, it was the child's symbol of security being destroyed. She may, very literally, never feel safe again.

[Lyric]

7. And also witnessing her mother being beaten as a hate crime.

I mean, what else do you call it when she did nothing to provoke him and he was screaming racial slurs at her? That's going to be one SERIOUSLY traumatized little girl, one who might not be able to bring herself to feel trust for a very long time. This kind of stuff screws people up inside. Sometimes it can take years to manifest, but it does. There is no doubt that this was "cruelty to a child," and saying otherwise is just going to make the child victim feel even MORE invalidated, trivialized, and insecure.

The judge is either biased, stupid, or both.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. I'm hoping to see this prosecuted as the hate crime it appears to be

Then justice will be served.

[DCKit]

18. I believe the State or U.S. attorney's are investigating as a hate crime.

Regardless of how they go about it, this person needs to be removed from society.

[lunatica]

9. I agree completely

Even when the beatings and violence involve both parents being victims and attackers it's horribly traumatic.

That judge may either be really uncaring or is following some very arcane law that says that if a child isn't being assaulted physically then there is no offense to them if they see someone else get assaulted.

Has anyone heard if the mother is hurt? Didn't he beat her to the ground and kick her too?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. I don't.

This was obviously rather trumped up.

[Taverner]

15. ????

[LaydeeBug]

8. This is fucking bullshit. I hope someone beats his ass....and yes I know I am wrong

to want that, so spare me. I want someone to BEAT THE TAR out of that rat bastard, on the reals.

[noiretextatique]

10. karma

he will get his. i am sure there are many of his fellow inmates (once he is convicted) who would love to beat him down. they have mothers, sisters, wives and daughters too.

[Czar One]

23. Who says you're wrong?

Sometimes, judgment is called for!

[Beer on a stick]

12. In CA, with visible swelling and bruising, that would have been felony battery.

Don't know how those clowns couldn't have charged that down there.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

14. Georgia law has no such provisions which leaves this as a simple battery

Which is a misdemeanor. I was told, but don't know if it's true or not, that there's a small chance it could be elevated to a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. Which has slightly harsher penalties.

[Romulox]

16. This is what Federal Civil Rights legislation is for. nt

[11 Bravo]

17. But if the child pulls a white girl's pigtails on the school bus tomorrow THAT will be a hate crime.

Just ask Limbaugh, Beck, et al.

[merh]

19. The DA also said she would review the video and the reports

to determine if there was any felony charge she could present to the grand jury for indictment.

She has my respect.

[gmoney]

20. Isn't the beating as assault and battery a felony on its own?

[Starry Messenger]

22. Misdemeanor??

Those are some laws that need serious retooling. That was a fucking hate crime. And that little girl is going to have that branded in her brain for the rest of her life.

[Tim01]

24. It shouldn't matter if it is a hate crime or not. They should burn his ass for what he did.

He beat a FEMALE , MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES, IN FRONT OF HER KID.

I hope somebody gets ahold of him and beats the shit out of him.

[Tim01]

25. Delete. dupe.