Tough Sentences For Two In Douglasville Hate Crime Case

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — A D0uglas County judge handed down hefty sentences Monday to two people involved in disrupting an 8-year-old black child's birthday party by waving Confederate flags, hurling racial slurs and threatening gun violence.

Superior Court Judge William McClain sentenced Jose Ismael Torres, 26, to 20 years, with 13 to be served in prison, and Kayla Rae Norton, 25, to 15 years with six years to serve. He also banished both of them from Douglas County upon the completion of their sentences.

The pair, who both wept openly as their sentences were announced, were convicted earlier this month of violating Georgia's street-gang terrorism law.

On July 25-25 of 2015, the two joined a group called Respect the Flag in what became a two-day, alcohol-fueled spree in Douglas and Paulding counties, during which they waved Rebel flags, hurled epithets and threatened several African-American citizens.

Upon discovering the child's birthday party, members of Respect the Flag pulled a shotgun and pointed it at party-goers, used racial slurs and threatened to kill people at the party.

The incident happened in the aftermath of the June 2015 shooting deaths of nine worshipers at a black church in Charleston, S.C. The case focused attention on shooter Dylann Roof's obsession with the Confederate battle emblem and led to backlash against the public display of the symbol.

Among other members of the group, Thomas Charles Summers and Lacey Paul Henderson II pleaded guilty to terroristic threats and battery charges. Summers was sentenced to four years in prison and Henderson to two.

Photos courtesy Douglas County Sheriff's Office