Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 8, 1993 TAG: 9312080122
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
"It's intolerable in this society to attack and maim people because of their race," Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk said as he sent Damian Williams off to prison.
Ouderkirk sentenced black co-defendant Henry Watson to probation until January 1997 and to 320 hours of community service.
Police went on alert Tuesday as a precaution against possible violence following the sentencing.
Some black community leaders and even the chairwoman of the jury that convicted Williams criticized the sentence as unfair.
But the city remained calm.
Williams, 20, was convicted of attacking Denny and four Hispanic and Asian victims as a rampaging mob took to the streets April 29, 1992, the first day of the Los Angeles riots that killed 55 people.
Watson, 29, was convicted of misdemeanor assault and pleaded guilty to an assault count against trucker Larry Tarvin. He served 17 months between his arrest and the trial.
The riots were unleashed by the state court acquittals of four white police officers in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King.
Williams smiled as his sentence was announced, giving a thumbs-up sign to friends in the audience and leaving the courtroom with his arms held high.
His lawyer, Edi Faal, said Williams' display expressed relief because he once faced the possibility of two life sentences plus 47 years. Now, he said, Williams will be eligible for parole with four years' prison time. He was also fined $1,000.
by CNB