"You're going to the penitentiary because of what you did. And it's an area that we've got to stamp out; that we've got to learn to live, races among each other. And the type of conduct that you exhibited cannot and will not be tolerated....You did that which does hinder good race relations and was a despicable act....I would suggest to you that during the time you're in the prison that you do some reading on race relations and maintaining good race relations and how that can be done."I'd like to see THIS printed widely about Pickering in this case.
However, I do note that there can be a disparity between those who take a plea bargain (usually to lesser charges) and those who take a case to trial--they expose themselves to high sentences.