Posted on 12/01/2021 1:53:41 PM PST by nickcarraway
AFitchburg man who faced the greatest number of looting-related criminal charges for a riot Downtown last year that followed a protest over the police custody death of a Minneapolis man pleaded guilty Tuesday to all eight of the felony charges against him as part of an agreement that placed him in a deferred prosecution program.
Under the agreement between Anthony M. Torres, 21, and District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, Torres could come away with no felony convictions if he completes requirements of the Deferred Prosecution Program, which is run by the DA’s office.
Five of the eight felonies would be dismissed once Torres completes the program, while the other three would be reduced to misdemeanors, and then Torres would face sentencing on those misdemeanors.
As part of his participation in deferred prosecution, Torres must pay $3,500 in restitution to Under Armour, which had a sportswear store on State Street that did not reopen after it was looted. The store has requested $25,000 in restitution, but it remains to be determined how that would be divided between Torres and several co-defendants.
“You understand that you are being given what appears to be a gift by the district attorney to participate in deferred prosecution,” Circuit Judge Julie Genovese told Torres, noting most of his charges would be dismissed if he gets through the program. “That’s a very generous deal given the number of cases.”
Ozanne said the offer was made because Torres had no criminal record prior to May 30, 2020, when he and others took part in breaking into and looting shops on State Street following the main protest of the day related to the death of George Floyd. Ozanne said Torres has not committed any additional crimes since the looting episode
Torres was charged with being a party to burglary of Under Armour, another sporting goods store not named in court, Knuckleheads, Ragstock, Walgreens and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Torres was also charged with felony criminal damage to property for damaging a police car that was ultimately set ablaze and destroyed, and breaking windows at the museum.
According to a criminal complaint, a witness who identified Torres to police said during the riot Torres said at one point, “I’m the biggest perpetrator out here,” and “I’m the leader in this (expletive).”
Terms of Torres’ participation in the deferred prosecution program were not specified in court, but participation often lasts for a year, and it requires participants to fully take responsibility for the crimes to which they have pleaded guilty. If he fails to fully take responsibility, Genovese told Torres, he could be kicked out of the program.
If that happens, Genovese would enter judgments on all eight of the felony charges and Torres would face sentencing. The burglary charges each carry up to 12½ years of combined prison and extended supervision and the criminal damage charges each carry up to 3½ years.
The misdemeanors Torres could be sentenced on later each carry maximum sentences of up to nine months in jail.
Many of those who took part in looting associated with Downtown protests have received deferred prosecution outcomes after pleading guilty to felony crimes. Many other cases involving looting and vandalism are still pending.
Do we smell Soros money here?
Do we smell Soros money here?
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Who knows? Some people hate the US out of their unpleasant nature and things like hate just come naturally to them.
During a riot saints can turn into monsters.
The real perps are the officials who stood back and let that riot happen.
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