Jeez, these nignames are really getting out of hand: "Sadira" "Akeylah" "Kedne" Africoonian? Dunecoonian? --------------------------------------------------- Non-Bias Charges Upped to Hate Crime May 2, 2005 By Marianna Hernandez Suspects in the March 30 buttault in Marine Park have until June 1 plead guilty to buttault as a hate crime. The charge carries a year and a half maximum sentence, but the judge could hand down a lesser term. The suspects as identified by the New York City Law Department are Sadira M., Akeylah P., Jessica P., Kedne L., and Vanna W. and are between ages 13 and 14. The five were allegedly part of a gang of approximately 30 black teens who attacked and beat six white girls in Marine Park's basketball court on March 30. During the attack, the suspects shouted "black power" and called their victims "white crackers." "We are happy that the charges have been upgraded because what happened should never have happened and it will stay with the victims for the rest of their lives," said Debbie, one of the victim's mothers who wanted her last name withheld. Charges against the buttailants were officially filed by the Law Department in Brooklyn Family Court on April 8, before Judge Maureen McLeod. The five face charges including buttault and menacing, with stiffer sentences because of the hate crimes designation. According to the Law Department, suspects were released to their respective guardians until June 1, and served with temporary orders of protection on behalf of the witnesses. State officials voiced their concerns over the incident. "I suspect that if you took a hard look at the numbers of bias incidents citywide as indicated by the Bloomberg administration, you get a far different picture, a less rosy picture, than the one that's been reported," said state Senator Carl Kruger. A new police command post, manned by five officers and one sergeant was set up in Marine Park two weeks ago. At least one officer is present from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The 61st precinct, which includes the Marine Park Junior High School in its confines, will work with the 63rd precinct to increase manpower in the area and maintain increasing number of patrols around the park and school in order to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
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