From: [MANNY ROTHSTEIN] at [flyer.com] (manny rothstein)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: Judge Throws Book at Dav.
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 1994 12:12:24 GMT

From AP, 12:32 PM (ET) 6/17

Davidians Get Harsh Sentences
   SAN ANTONIO--A judge Friday sentenced most of the Branch Davidians
convicted in the shooting deaths of 4 federal agents to the most
stringent penalties.
   The Davidians were charged for their roles in the Feb. 28, 1993,
shootout near Waco between Koresh's sect and agents of the US Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, who raided Koresh's religious
compound to search for illegal weapons and to arrest Koresh.
   The gun battle left 4 agents and 6 Davidians dead. A 51-day armed
standoff ensued, ending April 19 in a hellish fire in which Koresh and
78 of his disciples perished.
   Brad Branch, Jaime Castillo and Kevin Whitecliff were each
sentenced to the maximum 30-year sentence for using or carrying a
firearm during commission of a crime and the 10-year maximum sentence
for voluntary manslaughter. The sentences will run consecutively. Each
man was also fined $2,000.
   Renos Avraam and Livingstone Fagan also were sentenced to 30 years
for using or carrying a firearm during commission of a crime and the
10 year maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter. The sentences
will run consecutively. Their fines were heavier. Avraam was fined
$10,000 and Fagan was fined $5,000.
   Graeme Craddock was sentenced to the 10-year maximum for illegally
possessing a grenade, but the judge deviated from his maximum
sentences and sentenced Craddock to 10 years for using or carrying a
firearm during a crime. He was fined $2,000.
   Paul Fatta was sentenced to 5 years for unlawfully manufacturing
and possessing machine guns and 10 years for aiding and abetting
Koresh in lawfully possessing machine guns. He was fined $50,000.
   The judge also departed from the maximum sentences for Ruth Riddle,
who was convicted of using or carrying a firearm during a crime. She
was given 5 years in prison and fined $2,500.
   Prosecutor Ray Jahn had compared the Branch Davidians to "religious
terrorists."
   "They are as much religious terrorists as the people who blew the
barracks in Lebanon, the people who blew up the World Trade Center in
New York and Pan Am 103," Jahn said. Koresh's sect and agents of the
US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, who raided Koresh's
religious compound to search for illegal weapons and to arrest Koresh.
   The gun battle left 4 agents and 6 Davidians dead. A 51-day armed
standoff ensued, ending April 19, 1993, in a hellish fire in which
Koresh and 78 of his disciples perished.
   Eleven Davidians were brought to trial. All were cleared of charges
of murder and murder conspiracy, which carry life prison sentences.
Three defendants were acquitted of all charges, and 8 were convicted
of lesser charges.
                                          (From AP)
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