Local and national black leaders had mixed reactions to the news that one person was charged with a hate crime in the case of Megan Williams, who was allegedly raped, tortured and held against her will last fall in Logan County.
Local and national black leaders had mixed reactions to the news that one person was charged with a hate crime in the case of Megan Williams, who was allegedly raped, tortured and held against her will last fall in Logan County.
"I think that it is good that we got one but she wasn't there hating by herself," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who attended a Charleston rally for Williams in December. "They all should have been charged with a hate crime. I don't think one charge would have been filed had it not been for the public outcry."
Others focused on all of the charges, not just hate crimes.
"I know that many people in the community wanted to see hate crime charges brought. We are happy to see that at least one individual was charged with a hate crime," said Coston Davis Jr., president of the Charleston chapter of the NAACP. "Our biggest focus is to get these individuals off the street for the maximum amount of time."
Of the seven people charged in the case, Karen Burton was the only one to be charged under West Virginia's hate crimes law. She allegedly stabbed Williams in the ankle while saying, "This is what we do to niggers around here," according to Logan County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Abraham.
Williams was discovered by police at a trailer near Big Creek on Sept. 8, 2007. She was allegedly raped, tortured, beaten and forced to eat animal feces, among other acts.
Five people were indicted Tuesday for crimes against Williams.
Bobby Brewster, Frankie Brewster, Karen Burton and Danny Combs were all charged with the kidnapping/holding hostage of Williams. The four were also charged with various other offenses, including malicious assault, sexual assault and conspiracy.
Linnie Burton Jr. was indicted on one count of misdemeanor battery. He was not among the original six people arrested in the case.
George Messer and Alisha Burton both pleaded guilty Friday to one count of kidnapping and one count of assault during the commission of a felony. Each faces up to 10 years in prison and has agreed to testify against the other defendants.
Local and national black leaders rallied in Charleston in late 2007, asking prosecutors to bring hate crime charges against the defendants in the Williams case. Abraham had said such charges could take away from other charges with stiffer penalties that could be easier to prove.
Davis, whose group did not participate in the rallies, said he was not happy that two of the defendants had been allowed to plead guilty, but he understood.
"We kind of assume some deals are going to be cut here or there," he said. "Unfortunately that is just part of the justice system now. Everyone cuts a deal. Unfortunately that is the only way to find out truly what went on behind closed doors."
Local and national black leaders had mixed reactions to the news that one person was charged with a hate crime in the case of Megan Williams, who was allegedly raped, tortured and held against her will last fall in Logan County.
"I think that it is good that we got one but she wasn't there hating by herself," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who attended a Charleston rally for Williams in December. "They all should have been charged with a hate crime. I don't think one charge would have been filed had it not been for the public outcry."
Others focused on all of the charges, not just hate crimes.
"I know that many people in the community wanted to see hate crime charges brought. We are happy to see that at least one individual was charged with a hate crime," said Coston Davis Jr., president of the Charleston chapter of the NAACP. "Our biggest focus is to get these individuals off the street for the maximum amount of time."
Of the seven people charged in the case, Karen Burton was the only one to be charged under West Virginia's hate crimes law. She allegedly stabbed Williams in the ankle while saying, "This is what we do to niggers around here," according to Logan County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Abraham.
Williams was discovered by police at a trailer near Big Creek on Sept. 8, 2007. She was allegedly raped, tortured, beaten and forced to eat animal feces, among other acts.
Five people were indicted Tuesday for crimes against Williams.
Bobby Brewster, Frankie Brewster, Karen Burton and Danny Combs were all charged with the kidnapping/holding hostage of Williams. The four were also charged with various other offenses, including malicious assault, sexual assault and conspiracy.
Linnie Burton Jr. was indicted on one count of misdemeanor battery. He was not among the original six people arrested in the case.
George Messer and Alisha Burton both pleaded guilty Friday to one count of kidnapping and one count of assault during the commission of a felony. Each faces up to 10 years in prison and has agreed to testify against the other defendants.
Local and national black leaders rallied in Charleston in late 2007, asking prosecutors to bring hate crime charges against the defendants in the Williams case. Abraham had said such charges could take away from other charges with stiffer penalties that could be easier to prove.
Davis, whose group did not participate in the rallies, said he was not happy that two of the defendants had been allowed to plead guilty, but he understood.
"We kind of assume some deals are going to be cut here or there," he said. "Unfortunately that is just part of the justice system now. Everyone cuts a deal. Unfortunately that is the only way to find out truly what went on behind closed doors."
The NAACP will continue to monitor the case and watch how it develops from here, he said.
The Rev. Paul Dunn, who pastors the First Baptist Church in Charleston, said that events held for Williams were done to get the issue of hate crimes in the forefront.
"And that happened," said Dunn, whose church held one of the rallies. "I was in several of the meetings with Abraham and saw how he was looking at prosecuting the case."
Dunn said Abraham assured him that he would use the hate crime charge if needed.
"He said he wanted to keep that in the back burner and see if he could get more serious offenses to stick first," Dunn said.
But Sharpton said one hate crime charge is not nearly enough.
"I think that you could have other motives and still qualify for a hate crime," he said. "From what I know, I think that they are taking a long time and that there is a lot of politics involved.
"They are wondering what the reaction of the West Virginia community is going to be rather than upholding justice. That is why we have to keep the pressure up."
Malik Shabazz, who organized the rallies for Williams through his group Black Lawyers for Justice, said he was pleased by the hate crime charge.
"At least there is a sign here that some justice will be done," Shabazz said. "Our reading of the evidence dictates that more, all of the defendants should have been charged with a hate crime charge. But for West Virginia standards of justice it seems historical that even just one hate crime charge is being filed."
Shabazz said this appeared to be the first time the state's hate crime law was used to charge someone.
"In the history of West Virginia, I think that is significant," he said. "I think our interest in the case, our advocacy has been vindicated. ... We will stay active in the case to see that those that harmed Megan will be brought to justice."
To contact staff writer Gary A. Harki, use e-mail or call 348-5163.
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