{"id":29178,"date":"2017-02-03T10:50:04","date_gmt":"2017-02-03T18:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=29178"},"modified":"2017-02-03T10:50:04","modified_gmt":"2017-02-03T18:50:04","slug":"north-carolina-man-sentenced-to-eight-months-of-home-confinement-for-threatening-mosque-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=29178","title":{"rendered":"Man Sentenced to Eight Months of Home Confinement for Threatening Mosque Members"},"content":{"rendered":"

NORTH<\/strong> CAROLINA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"North
Russell Thomas Langford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Fayetteville, North Carolina man was sentenced Thursday to eight months of home confinement for threatening members of the Masjid Al Madina<\/span>\u00a0Mosque in Raeford, North Carolina, according to federal prosecutors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russell Thomas Langford, 36, plead guilty on Nov. 7, 2016, to a one-count Information that charged him with a felony for threatening mosque members in order to obstruct their free exercise of religious beliefs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe told people at the mosque that he would kill them and bury them behind the mosque,\u201d said Capt. John Kivett of the Sheriff\u2019s Office, according to the Daily News.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe brandished a weapon while he was on the property.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For the entire Daily News story click here: Threats \u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Witnesses said Langford made death threats to worshippers of the mosque in Raeford, taunted children, attempted to run over one of the community’s members in his vehicle, and pointed a firearm at a worshipper. Langford also was accused of leaving bacon outside the mosque. The Quran prohibits Muslims from eating pork, according to Fox News.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As a result of his plea, Langford admitted that on June 9, 2016, he threatened several mosque members and used a dangerous weapon in doing so.\u00a0\u00a0On that date, Langford repeatedly drove past the Masjid <\/span>Al Madina Mosque.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, he saw a mosque member leaving the area.\u00a0\u00a0Langford followed the mosque member to his home before returning to the mosque.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Back at the mosque, Langford approached another mosque member, identified by the initials M.K.\u00a0\u00a0Langford threatened to kill M.K. and bury M.K. on the mosque premises, before pointing a firearm in M.K.\u2019s direction.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Langford then drove away.\u00a0\u00a0When Langford returned to the mosque again that night, he was stopped by several mosque members, who called the local authorities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During his multiple contacts with members of the Masjid <\/span>Al Madina Mosque, Langford repeatedly referred to mosque members using derogatory anti-Muslim terms.\u00a0\u00a0Langford admitted that he knew Masjid <\/span>Al Madina was a mosque and that the people he targeted with his threats were engaged in activities related to the mosque.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Accordingly, in pleading guilty, Langford admitted that he acted intentionally to threaten the mosque\u2019s members and obstruct their religious exercise.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe free exercise of religion is a foundational principle of our society,\u201d said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wheeler.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHateful threats designed to obstruct this right to religious freedom and to intimidate members of a religion simply because of their beliefs have no place in our communities.\u00a0\u00a0An attack on one religion is an attack on all religions.\u00a0\u00a0The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute crimes motivated by religious animus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n