Posted on 10/01/2014 12:13:01 PM PDT by jazusamo
Courtroom sketches at link.
A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced Mohamed Osman Mohamud to 30 years in prison for his attempt to set off a bomb at the November 2010 holiday-tree lighting ceremony in downtown Portland.
Just before the sentence was announced by Senior U.S. District Judge Garr M. King at 11:25 a.m., Mohamud stood and apologized to the court.
"The things I said and did were terrible," he said. "I want to apologize to everyone, to the community."
He also apologized to the Muslim community, saying he wants people to know that Islam does not preach hate.
Mohamud, now 23, was found guilty in January 2013 of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. The federal jury rejected the defense's theory that Mohamud was entrapped, agreeing with the government instead that he was predisposed to commit the crime.
Mohamud's mother, Mariam Barre, said she was very disappointed with the sentence.
"We are Muslim, and our religion does not to kill innocent people," she said to a group of reporters and photographers outside the courthouse. She also criticized the government, saying it should not be isolating kids from their parents.
The sentencing caps four years of court battles challenging not only the government's role in planning the sting, but also the constitutionality of its surveillance tactics and the secrecy that shrouded the operation. Undercover agents testified under pseudonyms and defense attorneys were denied access to large swaths of information considered classified.
Mohamud could have faced a life term. His lawyers pressed for a 10-year sentence, saying he was a confused, conflicted and easily manipulated young man and had not been planning an attack until government agents came along. They also argued that he feels deep remorse and shame for what he has done and can be a productive member of society.
"His life is worth saving," defense lawyers Stephen Sady, Steve Wax and Lisa Hay wrote in a recent court filing.
As Wax walked toward a throng of reporters on Wednesday, he was asked about the length of the sentence.
"It's a long sentence," he said with a sigh.
Mohamud's defense lawyers said outside the courtroom that they would file an appeal within the next 14 days.
Prosecutors argued that Mohamud should serve at least 40 years in prison. Mohamud had dreamed of a violent attack against the United States or its allies since he was at least 15, they said, citing the testimony of one of the undercover agents. He was given numerous opportunities to back out of the plot and expressed enthusiasm for the deaths and injuries that would result, wrote Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan D. Knight, Pamala Holsinger and Ryan Bounds.
Although Mohamud was originally scheduled for sentencing last year, King canceled the date after the government filed a notice disclosing it had derived some evidence under the 2008 Amendments Act to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a controversial provision that allows the warrantless collection of communications with an overseas target.
Mohamud's attorneys challenged the constitutionality of the provision and sought a new trial for their client. But King ultimately denied their requests and set the Oct. 1 date for Mohamud's sentencing.
Mohamud's attorneys have requested that he be allowed to serve his sentence at the federal prison in Sheridan or another West Coast prison.
"We are Muslim, and our religion does not to kill innocent people," she said to a group of reporters and photographers outside the courthouse. She also criticized the government, saying it should not be isolating kids from their parents.
You can't make this kind of stuff up.
Congrats to judge King on the 30 year sentence.
Just like what they say about New York. They liked it so much they named it twice.
“...saying he wants people to know that Islam does not preach hate. ..”
Bull sheeeite.
Islam is pure unadulterated unfiltered evil.
Where have I heard that name before .....
Oh yeah! Wasn't he the medieval slaver, murderer and child rapist?
“does not to kill innocent people”
“Innocent” serves as a weasel-word here. Translated, it means “folks that don’t deserve killing. Otherwise it’s OK”.
Kid, my foot.
Yeah , I noticed that.
“We are Muslim, and our religion does not to kill innocent people,”
” the Devil made me do it “
and the Devil also goes by the name of Mohammed
my mistake, meant to say POLES not polls
Qur’an:9:5”Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”
Qur’an:8:60: “Muster against them [infidels] all the men and cavalry at your command, that you may strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah, and your enemies.”
“I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them” Qur’an (8:12).
“When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and take to prayer and render the alms levy, allow
them to go their way. God is forgiving and merciful.” Qur’an (9:5)
“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth.” Qur’an (9:29).
He will be recruiting on the inside
Yep, they don’t consider infidels innocent.
Mo Mo is a go go gone...
Actually, taxpayers have been sentenced to thirty years of feeding, clothing, and warehousing this piece of filth.
This has nothing to do with religion or Islam!!!
Sorry Mohamed but you can't trick me! Misspelling Mohamed for a last still makes me think you must really like Mohamed.
The Doctor: That’s the city of New New York.
Rose Tyler: No, seriously?
The Doctor: Well, technically it’s the 15th city with that name, so it’d be New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York.
Rose Tyler: [laughs] You’re so... different.
The Doctor: I’m the new new doctor.
-”New Earth” (2006) Doctor Who
Okay - Super Max in CO - nice western air and with some of your buds although you won't be in contact with them - just nice contemplation time. For thirty years.
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