priorities

Katrina looters get 15 years in prison

KENNER, Louisiana (AP) -- Three people convicted of hauling away liquor, wine and beer from a grocery store after Hurricane Katrina were sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison.
The judge said he wanted to send a message that looting would not be tolerated when he gave the maximum sentence to Coralnelle Little, 36, Rhonda McGowen, 42, and Paul C. Pearson, 36, all of Kenner.
A jury convicted the trio May 2 on a portion of the state's looting law that took effect two weeks before the Aug. 29 storm. The amended law set a three-year minimum sentence, and a maximum of 15 years in prison, for looting during a declared state of emergency.
They were convicted of attempting to leave the grocery with 27 bottles of liquor and wine, six cases of beer and one case of wine coolers, six days after Katrina made landfall.
Pearson's attorney, Bruce Netterville, said the sentence and conviction would be appealed.
"We believe the sentence is excessive," said Netterville.
Attorneys for the other defendants agreed.

as do i. we're really going to demand "accountability" from hurricane survivors in the form of a fifteen-year prison sentence and let the jokers who should have been down there providing for and protecting the people keep on rolling along? pathetic.